Erdogan reveals changes to military reporting structure

ANKARA (AA) - A series of changes to the organizational structure of Turkey’s armed forces was announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Saturday.

The changes, which follow the July 15 coup attempt, included making the army, navy and air force directly answerable to the Defense Ministry, Erdogan said in a live ATV interview.

He also suggested making the General Staff and the National Intelligence Agency directly answerable to the presidency but said this would be discussed with opposition leaders.

In further changes, military schools will be shut down and replaced with a university of national defense that would include army, air force and naval academies. A gendarmerie academy will also be established.

Responsibility for military hospitals would be transferred to the Health Ministry, Erdogan said.