An aide of the commander of Turkey’s Aegean Army (Fourth Army) was arrested on Sunday.

The major, identified only by his initials F.Ö., was arrested over links to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ). He had earlier been detained in the western province of Izmir.

According to information provided by security sources, it was determined that F.Ö. was communicating with high-ranking members of the terrorist group via payphones. The investigation was coordinated by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and National Intelligence Organization (MIT).

F.Ö., who was actively serving under the leadership of Aegean Army Commander Lt. Gen. Ali Sivri, contacted FETÖ suspect L.Ç., who was charged with being a leader of an armed terrorist group.

The anti-terror branch of the provincial security directorate detained F.Ö. after security forces detected that he contacted the suspect on prepaid mobile phones in places such as grocery stores and kiosks, as well as on payphones. Police are still questioning F.Ö.

Tens of thousands have been arrested or detained since the July 15, 2016, coup attempt, which was thwarted thanks to strong public resistance. Subsequent investigations revealed a large network of FETÖ members in the military. Security personnel still launch operations on an almost daily basis to hunt down suspected terrorist group members in the armed forces.