UPDATE - Türkiye’s Supreme Military Council convenes in capital Ankara

UPDATE CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE, ADDS FURTHER DETAILS, REMOVES LAST TWO PARAGRAPHS IN PREVIOUS STORY

By Zafer Fatih Beyaz

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye’s Supreme Military Council on Thursday gathered at the presidential complex under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital Ankara.

The closed-door meeting sets the agenda for Türkiye’s military and typically discusses promotions, dismissals, and other personnel decisions.

Before the meeting, the council members visited Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic.

Erdogan wrote in the mausoleum’s memorial book that, amid conflicts in its region, Türkiye stands out as a beacon of stability and peace, while also remembering Ataturk and his comrades-in-arms.

Erdogan said he is determined "to protect our homeland, our nation, our state and our national interests to the end by taking all necessary measures against the expansionist ambitions that have recently resurfaced."

"We will not give the opportunity to those who want to turn our region into a bloodbath, and we will continue to be a source of trust for our own citizens and our friends," the Turkish President added.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul