Why Erdogan's favorite general lost his job

Metin Gurcan

Jan 4, 2019

Turkish general Ismail Metin Temel (R), the commander of the Second army and commander of Operation "Olive Branch" against YPG fighters in Afrin visits Mount Bersaya, north of the Syrian town of Azaz near the border with Turkey, on January 29, 2018.

The Turkish military on January 20 launched operation "Olive Branch", its second major incursion into Syrian territory during the seven-year civil war. The operation, with Turkish war planes and artillery backing a major ground incursion involving Ankara-backe — Turkish Gen. Ismail Metin Temel, the commander of Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, visits Mount Bersaya, Syria, Jan. 29, 2018. — NAZEER AL-KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images

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.