Turkey's MIT Headquarters Resists 15 July Coup Attempt

On the night of 15 July 2016, coup plotters tried to seize the Ankara headquarters of the Milli İstihbarat Teşkilatı (MIT). Their plan involved armed SAT commandos arriving by helicopter, aiming to capture the then‑MIT chief Hakan Fidan, who later became foreign minister. Security personnel denied the aircraft permission to land and opened fire, forcing the helicopters to hover and later attack the building with Skorsky and Kobra gunships. The defenders held the compound, preventing the coup forces from entering.

A documentary titled “Asırlık Gece” released testimonies from MIT staff who described the intense fighting and the resolve to resist, saying they would rather “beat themselves up than surrender.” As news of the attempt spread, Ankara residents and nearby shopkeepers gathered outside the headquarters in civilian support of the security forces.