Israel prepares for possible Turkish challenges in the Mediterranean, Jerusalem Post reports

World IsraelmilitaryTop Newsturkey Israel prepares for possible Turkish challenges in the Mediterranean, Jerusalem Post reports Israel Navy Relevant News Israel prepares for possible Turkish challenges in the Mediterranean, Jerusalem Post reports 1 September 2026 New Cyprus Association condemns online hatred over Kyrenia shipwreck tragedy 1 September 2026 ALMA proposes law to ban boats sailing in dangerous weather 1 September 2026 newsroom 1 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Israel’s Navy is taking steps to deter possible Turkish aggression in the Mediterranean, monitoring the expanding presence of Turkey’s Navy in areas of heightened Israeli interest, according to information cited by the Jerusalem Post. The message the Israeli Navy wants to send Turkey is clear, the paper says: if Ankara believes it can move its fleet freely, it should think again. According to JPost information, Israel’s armed forces (IDF) are on heightened alert for any Turkish move, whether at sea, on land or in the air. Surveillance covers areas near Greece and Cyprus, and in the worst-case scenario, Syria or Gaza. The IDF acknowledges that Turkey’s Navy is a powerful force that cannot be ignored. However, the greatest source of risk regarding Turkey is identified as Syria, particularly following an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase which, as government officials themselves acknowledged, was aimed at preventing Turkey from installing new radar systems or other equipment that could limit Israel’s freedom of action. Israel has also strongly opposed Turkey’s participation in the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), the peacekeeping force for the Gaza Strip. The IDF believes Turkey has a deep commitment to the Syrian regime, which it attributes partly to religious motives, the Jerusalem Post reports. By contrast, it assesses Turkish involvement in Gaza as broader in nature, linked more to the pursuit of regional influence than to religion. Israel and Egypt against Turkish naval ambitions The paper reported on July 26 that despite a rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt in certain areas, senior sources within Israel’s defence establishment see room for cooperation between Israel and Cairo to serve as a counterweight to Ankara’s naval ambitions. As both Israel and Egypt watched Iran tighten its control over the Strait of Hormuz, the two countries may conclude, according to this assessment, that they share a common interest in preventing Turkey from emerging as a rising regional power capable of creating a similar threat. To date, Israeli and Egyptian naval forces have cooperated within the framework of international exercises, though neither country has faced any serious challenge in the Mediterranean. This, however, is only one version of the geopolitical developments in the region. At least two others exist. The Egypt-Turkey rapprochement Despite this Israel-favourable reading, Egyptian Defence Minister Ashraf Salem Zaher travelled to Ankara on July 13. According to more pessimistic observers, this move signalled a deep structural shift in eastern Mediterranean geopolitics. Under this reading, Egypt and Turkey are drawing increasingly closer, potentially even at the expense of Israeli interests. There is also a third approach, based on the fact that until recently, Turkey and Egypt essentially wanted no relationship with each other at all. This reality, which held until as recently as last year, had deep historical and political roots: for more than a decade, ideological differences between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi were a constant feature of the regional landscape, with seemingly no path to reconciliation. Sisi accused Erdogan of backing the Muslim Brotherhood, which held power in Egypt from 2012 to 2013, while Erdogan in turn accused Sisi of overthrowing it. Over recent months, though, Turkey and Egypt appear to have found new benefits from their rapprochement. Sisi secures access to advanced Turkish military technology without Western constraints, while Erdogan gains a partner that can lend greater legitimacy to his maritime ambitions. Ankara-Cairo military cooperation At the same time, military cooperation between Cairo and Ankara has evolved rapidly beyond the level of formal diplomacy, acquiring, according to the report, deeper and more structural characteristics. Joint military exercises in recent months have shown a level of operational coordination that some observers describe as concerning. Egyptian pilots took part in Turkey’s Anatolian Eagle air exercise, training alongside Turkish forces in simulated high-threat environments. This was followed by Egypt’s Golden Eagle special forces exercise, which focused on the interoperability of command systems across multiple fronts. According to some analysts cited by JPost, this is not simply a matter of routine bilateral military exercises, but a process of convergence between the military doctrines of two of the region’s strongest armed forces. Cairo’s concerns may serve Israeli interests Senior sources within Israel’s Navy believe that, despite the restoration of relations between Egypt and Turkey, Cairo’s concerns over the possibility of Ankara gaining a strategic advantage at sea work in Israel’s favour. Sisi still holds serious reservations over issues concerning Libya, as well as other areas where Erdogan’s interests may diverge significantly from Egypt’s. On these fronts, Egypt could cooperate not only with Israel, but also with Greece and Cyprus, in order to serve as a counterweight to Turkish aggression, the Jerusalem Post reports. Greece-Israel military cooperation In late June, the head of the Greek Navy, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, visited Israel, where he met with the head of Israel’s Navy, Vice Admiral Eyal Harel. Shayetet 13, Israel’s elite naval special operations unit, took part in the talks, while both sides further strengthened cooperation mechanisms between their naval forces. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News New Cyprus Association condemns online hatred over Kyrenia shipwreck tragedy ALMA proposes law to ban boats sailing in dangerous weather Boundless respect The deadly shipwreck off occupied Kyrenia Cyprus records four confirmed West Nile virus cases, health ministry says situation controlled Love rivalry suspected behind Nicosia stabbing of 21-year-old India busts firm faking expiry dates, nutrition labels on PepsiCo, Nestle food exports Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.