included around 40 percent of Turkey 's admirals and generals . Turkey accuses U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the coup and has suspended or placed under investigation tens of thousands of his suspected followers , including soldiers , judges and academics . In the aftermath of the coup , media outlets , schools and universities have also been closed down .
After the meeting , Erdogan approved the council 's decisions to keep armed forces chief Hulusi Akar and the army , navy and air force commanders in their posts , making few changes to the top brass , Erdogan 's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters . Erdogan , who narrowly escaped capture and possible death on the night of the coup , told Reuters in an interview last week that the military , NATO 'S second biggest , needed " fresh blood " . The dishonorable dischargespersonnel.endposition.firinglayoffincluded around 40 percent of Turkey 's admirals and generals . Turkey accuses U.S .- based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the coup and has suspended or placed under investigation tens of thousands of his suspected followers , including soldiers , judges and academics . In the aftermath of the coup , media outlets , schools and universities have also been closed down .