Israel monitors Turkish naval activity amid Mediterranean security concerns

Jerusalem, Israel. Israel’s Navy is taking measures to deter possible Turkish aggression in the Mediterranean and is monitoring Turkey’s expanding naval presence in areas of heightened Israeli interest, according to information cited by the Jerusalem Post.

The Israel Defense Forces are reportedly on heightened alert for Turkish activity at sea, on land or in the air, including near Greece and Cyprus and, in a worst-case scenario, in Syria or Gaza.

Military monitoring

The Jerusalem Post reported that the Israeli Navy’s message to Turkey is that Ankara should not assume it can move its fleet freely in the region.

The IDF recognises that Turkey’s Navy is a powerful force that cannot be ignored, according to the report.

Concerns over Syria and Gaza

The report identified Syria as the main source of risk concerning Turkey. It said an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase was intended to prevent Turkey from installing radar systems or other equipment that could restrict Israel’s freedom of action, as acknowledged by government officials.

Israel has also opposed Turkey’s participation in the International Stabilisation Force, the proposed peacekeeping force for the Gaza Strip.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the IDF assesses that Turkey has a deep commitment to the Syrian regime, partly for religious reasons. It considers Turkish involvement in Gaza to be broader, linked to the pursuit of regional influence rather than religion.

Possible cooperation with Egypt

The newspaper reported on July 26 that, despite rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt in some areas, senior Israeli defence sources see scope for cooperation between Israel and Cairo as a counterweight to Turkey’s naval ambitions.

As Israel and Egypt monitored Iran’s tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz, the assessment suggested that both countries could identify a shared interest in preventing Turkey from becoming a regional power capable of creating a similar threat.