He was commander of the Turkish forces inside Syria in 2016 following the coup d'état attempt.

Aksakallı played a major role with his staff sergeant Sgt.

As a result of his success, he was promoted to lieutenant general at the YAŞ meeting on 28 July 2016.

The General Staff Special Forces Commander, Major General Zekai Aksakallı, who reacted against the coup attempt of Fetullahçı Terrorist Organization (FETO) by saying "Terrorists will not be successful", caught attention in Turkish public opinion.

[1] He was commander of the Turkish forces inside Syria in 2016 following the coup d'état attempt.