Why Erdogan's favorite general lost his job
Popular Turkish commander Gen. Metin Temel was suddenly removed from his post along with another general when he expressed doubt over a planned operation in Syria.
With Turkish forces poised for a new operation in Syria, some last-minute moves within Turkey's upper military ranks have people puzzled.
Two generals were abruptly removed from their posts Dec. 31 and assigned to desk jobs. Gen. Metin Temel, commander of the Second Army, and Brig.-Gen. Mustafa Barut, commander of the Fourth Commando Brigade, were both reassigned by presidential decree to the Evaluation and Inspection Division of the Turkish General Staff.
The high-profile and popular Temel, known for his fierce anti-US and nationalist stances, was responsible for counterterror operations in Turkey and ongoing operations in Iraq and Syria.
The Turkish public was shocked by the demotions, as Ankara is planning an operation in Kurdish-controlled areas east of the Euphrates River. Temel, with his firm stand against the 2016 coup attempt and his successful command during Turkey's operation in Afrin, Syria, was a rising star adored by the public. He also was known to be very close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
