Osman Erbaş

Osman Erbaş
Born1962
Yerköy district, Yozgat Province, Turkey
Died (aged 58)
Bitlis province, Turkey
Allegiance Turkey
Branch Turkish Land Forces
Years of service1982–2021
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands
  • 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade (2010–2012)
  • 6th Mechanized Infantry Division (2015–2016)
  • 8th Corps (2017–2021)
Battles / wars

Lieutenant General Osman Erbaş (20 March 1962 – 4 March 2021) was a Turkish army officer. He was a keen proponent of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by the Turkish Army in anti-terrorism operations. In 2015 he was appointed commander of the 6th Mechanized Infantry Division and ordered his officers to remain loyal during the 15 July 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. Erbaş later testified as a witness at the trial of soldiers accused of joining the coup attempt. In 2017 he was appointed to command 8th Corps and while serving in this role was killed in a helicopter crash in 2021.