Turkish military declares it has seized power

The Turkish Armed Forces declared Friday that it has taken over the government, local news in Turkey is reporting. While it isn't yet confirmed to officially be a coup, the military's declaration is a strong show of confidence, BuzzFeed's Mike Giglio tweeted.

If confirmed, this will be the fifth coup in modern Turkish history. "The military has long seen itself as the 'guardian of Turkish democracy,' which it defines as the staunchly secular state created by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic," Al Jazeera writes. Indeed, on Friday, the military said it seized power "for democratic order."

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim confirmed on television that a group within the military is attempting a coup after reports of low-flying military planes, tanks, and bridge closures in Istanbul. Yildirim said only a portion of the Turkish military was behind the effort, and cautioned against using the word "coup," but said security forces are working to end the situation.

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