A decade after the night that nearly toppled President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkiye remains deeply divided over the legacy of the July 15, 2016, coup attempt. The failed uprising reshaped the country's politics, security, and society in ways that still reverberate. Main Developments On July 15, 2016, a faction of the Turkish military attempted to overthrow President Erdogan, staging attacks in Ankara and Istanbul. The coup failed within hours as citizens took to the streets to oppose the plotters, and loyalist forces regained control. The government swiftly blamed the movement led by Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric and former Erdogan ally, for orchestrating the attempt. A massive purge followed, targeting military personnel, judges, civil servants, and educators suspected of Gulenist ties. Read also: Iran's president vows to defend every inch of territory Background Erdogan and Gulen had once been political partners, with Gulen's movement wielding influence in the judiciary, police, and media. Their alliance fractured in the early 2010s over policy disagreements and corruption allegations. The 2016 coup was not the first military intervention in Turkish politics — previous overthrows occurred in 1960, 1971, 1980, and a 1997 'post-modern' coup. However, it was unique in its failure and the scale of the government's response. Why It Matters The aftermath transformed Turkiye's political landscape, concentrating power in the presidency and accelerating a shift toward an executive system. Tens of thousands of people were arrested or dismissed, creating lasting social and institutional rifts. The event also deepened Turkiye's foreign policy divergence from Western allies, particularly over the Gulen extradition dispute with the United States. Domestically, the coup anniversary has become a state-orchestrated day of commemoration, reinforcing national unity narratives. What's Next As the 10-year mark passes, the government continues to pursue remaining Gulen-linked suspects, while opposition voices question the extent of post-coup purges. The Gulen movement's status abroad and the unresolved extradition requests remain open diplomatic questions.