Turkey’s massive buildup of its indigenous drone (UAV) and missile strike capabilities has alarmed Israeli defense officials, forcing the IDF to closely monitor Turkish weapons transfers to Syria and fortify its own air defenses.
By Hezy Laing
MK Amit Halevy (Likud) , a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, has called on the defense establishment to make a profound change in perception, and recognize that the real northern threat does not come from Lebanon or Syria, but rather from Turkey.
According to Halevy, Erdogan already has a detailed plan to destroy Israel and backs it with a huge arsenal of modern weapons.
This assessment highlights Turkey’s modernization of its military, including advanced drones and missiles, and warns that Ankara is developing a “true northern threat” by anchoring a hostile presence in Syria
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his administration have consistently pursued a policy of extreme hostility and confrontation toward Israel.
While Turkey has not yet engaged in direct, open combat, Erdoğan’s active military hostility is evidenced by severing all diplomatic ties with Israel, threats of invasion, and sponsorship of armed terror groups.
Erdoğan has also publicly floated the prospect of a direct military invasion of Israel.
He has explicitly stated, “Just as we entered Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we will do the same to them,” referencing the deployment of Turkish forces in foreign conflicts.
In an escalation of diplomatic and legal warfare, a Turkish court “indicted” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 35 other Israeli defense and political officials in connection with the interception of a maritime flotilla.
Meanwhile, security analysts point to the May 2024 Mobilization Regulation that significantly expanded the government’s ability to mobilize civilian resources, private logistics, and personnel during national emergencies.
While designed as a broad crisis-preparedness tool, some observers interpret it as a step toward transitioning Turkey into a rapid wartime footing.
Erdoğan has also maintained a close, long-standing relationship with Hamas. Turkey has provided a safe haven, organizational presence, and logistical support to the leadership of the US-designated terrorist entity, which has used the country to plan attacks and fundraise.
According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Turkey’s relationship with Hamas goes far beyond mere dialogue. “But Ankara doesn’t maintain a dialogue with Hamas because it is interested in fostering peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It has a relationship with it so that it can help weaponize the entity against Israel.”
Strategic and defense analysts warn that in addition to the threat of Turkish drones or missiles, Ankara actively arms and supports radical Sunni militias operating in Syria, posing a severe indirect military threat to Israel’s northern border.
Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has continuously urged the U.S. and NATO allies to block providing Turkey with advanced military hardware, such as the F-35, citing Erdoğan’s active hostility and calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.
Turkey’s massive buildup of its indigenous drone (UAV) and missile strike capabilities has alarmed Israeli defense officials, forcing the IDF to closely monitor Turkish weapons transfers to Syria and fortify its own air defenses.
JINSA (Jewish Institute for National Security of America) notes that Erdoğan has actively used conflicts as an opportunity to threaten and criticize Israel. “He called Israel’s 2004 killing of Hamas founder Ahmed Yassin an act of ‘terrorism.’ However, under the pretense of criticizing Israel’s military operations in Gaza after Hamas’s October 7 massacre, Turkey’s hostility hit new levels.”
