NEW EASTERN OUTLOOK 🌐 (@NEO_Journal)

🇹🇷✈️🇮🇱F-35: Türkiye Requests, Israel Attacks… ➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿ Relations between Israel and Türkiye remain extremely tense. Following Iran's footsteps, Sunni Türkiye is becoming the main geopolitical adversary of the Jewish state in the Middle East. On the night of August 18, the Israeli Air Force carried out a bold operation in Syria, delivering eight precision strikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib province. ✏️Alexander Svaranc is a PhD in Politics, Professor, specialist in Turkish Studies, expert on Middle Eastern countries. ➡️Although the damage inflicted is significant, the primary purpose of the raid was political—a public warning to Türkiye against deployment of its airbases and air-defense systems near Israel's borders. The timing coincided with a visit by a Turkish military delegation to Syria—the result of effective Israeli intelligence. Israel confirmed the strike, justifying it as a preventive measure. Official Damascus and Ankara deny accusations, insisting the delegation's visit was consultative. Türkiye and Syria condemned the airstrikes as a violation of international law. The US, notified in advance, described the actions as "unnecessary escalation." Türkiye found itself facing a difficult choice between being drawn into a destructive conflict with the Israeli-American tandem, or backing down and acknowledging that its ambitions in Syria are not a priority for the "Islamic NATO." ➡️Turkish radars detected the Israeli planes 70 km from the border—Ankara scrambled fighters but did not engage, seeking to avoid direct conflict. This incident called into question the viability of the recently signed "Mecca Pact." Inside Israel, against the backdrop of approaching October elections, opposition leader Yair Golan called the strike a "dangerous provocation," accusing Netanyahu of escalation for political survival. Retired Vice Admiral Eliezer Marom clearly stated: "We will not allow the Turks to fill the vacuum left by the departure of the Iranians and to create their own foothold in Syria." Israel opposes modernization of the Turkish army with the most recent weaponry. Türkiye's return to the F-35 program is unacceptable to Israel and its lobby in the US. 🟦Trump's promises at the NATO summit in Ankara about granting Türkiye F-35s have remained words and encountered firm resistance from the US State Department. Türkiye is being denied access to the F-35 program because of its acquisition of Russian S-400s—negotiations with the UAE have dragged on, while transfer to US warehouses is blocked by Russia. Türkiye agreed to send obsolete American weapons to the Kiev regime—Russia officially demanded an explanation. Seven influential Turkish-American organizations appealed to 50 members of Congress to resume F-35 sales—success is doubtful without support of the American Jewish diaspora. Vice Admiral Marom identifies three factors restraining Türkiye: NATO membership, aspiration to European integration, and vulnerability of the Turkish economy. The Mecca Agreement is unlikely to stop Israel—Israel can initiate a counter-alliance involving nuclear powers. Ankara avoids a conflict that could provoke a new Sèvres. READ MORE #Turkey #Israel #F35 #Syria #MeccaPact #Geopolitics #MiddleEast ✅@NewEasternOutlook