Israeli analyst of Turkish affairs, Shay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, has warned that recent tensions between Turkey and the Zionist occupation are escalating, particularly following two incidents over the past two weeks. According to him, Ankara is actively working to establish a “Sunni military alliance” aimed at encircling Israel on multiple fronts.
According to Yanarocak, writing in Israel Hayom, the two flashpoints were:
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- A mid-air confrontation between Turkish and Israeli warplanes over Syrian airspace
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- Turkey’s refusal to allow Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plane to cross its airspace, forcing the cancellation of his planned visit to Azerbaijan
He argues these incidents not only reflect the depth of the diplomatic rift between Ankara and Tel Aviv, but also highlight Turkey’s rising strategic ambitions in the region.
Yanarocak, a researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, pointed to recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian military bases in Tadmur, Hama, and the T4 airbase, which occurred just before Turkish troops were expected to deploy in those areas. He claims the timing was intentional.
“Through this operation,” he writes, “Israel drew a red line, signaling clearly to Ankara that any Turkish military presence near its borders will not be tolerated.”
He also noted that Turkey’s Foreign Ministry issued a sharp response, branding Israel as “the greatest threat to Turkey and to the entire region.” While President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks were more measured, Yanarocak believes this contrast indicates Ankara received the Zionist message loud and clear.
Yanarocak further reveals that Azerbaijan is reportedly mediating between the two sides, capitalising on its close ties with both Ankara and Tel Aviv to ease rising tensions.
He then draws attention to the “Neighbours of Syria” platform, established in March, which includes Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq. While presented as a Jordanian initiative, Yanarocak asserts it is primarily a Turkish-led project aimed at creating an Islamic Sunni military alliance that surrounds Israel from the north and east.
The writer also alleges that Turkey is lobbying Egypt to join the alliance. According to him, President Erdoğan personally contacted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, proposing coordination of all military steps. If successful, Yanarocak warns, “Israel will find itself fully encircled.”
He concludes by referencing historical precedent, asserting that “Turkey never withdraws from regions it enters under the pretext of peacekeeping,” citing Northern Cyprus and Northern Syria as examples. Israel, he cautions, must prepare for the Turkish project, which he claims could soon pose a serious military threat that may restrain Israel’s freedom of action.
