Israeli authorities caution of possible conflict with Türkiye
According to the Nagel Commission, Turkish-backed Syrian proxies may pose a greater threat than a standoff with Iran. For more details, you can Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ankara-backed Syrian proxies may pose an even greater threat than a confrontation with Iran, according to a security commission's assessment.
A significant warning has been issued by a major government-backed panel, cautioning that Israel should prepare for a possible clash with Türkiye due to Ankara's backing of different factions in Syria.
On Monday, the Nagel Commission, created in August 2024 by the Israeli government for security advisory purposes, released an extensive report concerning Israel’s security stance. The commission is chaired by Professor Jacob Nagel, a previous head of the National Security Council and former National Security Adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The report emphasized Ankara’s ambitions to revive Ottoman-era influence in the Middle East, noting that certain Syrian factions are aligned with Türkiye. “The threat from Syria could evolve into something even more dangerous than the Iranian threat,” the commission stated.
Additionally, the report proposed a significant change in Israel's defense strategy, suggesting a shift from a deterrent approach to a more proactive stance. This would necessitate reallocating 70% of defense resources toward offensive operations and increasing the defense budget for 2025 by nine billion shekels, raising it to 123 billion shekels. The commission indicated that the country would need to sustain higher budgets until 2030.
The recent overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government, due to a surprise jihadist offensive led by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham in late 2024, has led to improved relations between Ankara and Damascus. Turkish officials have assured the new Syrian leadership of their assistance in reconstruction, advocated for the lifting of severe international sanctions, and are looking toward joint operations against Kurdish militants.
In the aftermath of Assad's fall, Israel has initiated a widespread bombing campaign across Syria, targeting military infrastructure and advanced weaponry to prevent them from being acquired by adversaries. The Israeli military has also expanded its presence into more internationally recognized Syrian territories, entering the UN-established buffer zone between the two nations from the Golan Heights.
The relationship between Israel and Türkiye, historically supportive of Palestine, has deteriorated since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of “state terrorism” and “genocide” in the region, while Israel has criticized Turkey’s backing of Hamas. In November, Erdogan announced that Ankara had completely cut diplomatic ties with Israel.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
A significant warning has been issued by a major government-backed panel, cautioning that Israel should prepare for a possible clash with Türkiye due to Ankara's backing of different factions in Syria.
On Monday, the Nagel Commission, created in August 2024 by the Israeli government for security advisory purposes, released an extensive report concerning Israel’s security stance. The commission is chaired by Professor Jacob Nagel, a previous head of the National Security Council and former National Security Adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The report emphasized Ankara’s ambitions to revive Ottoman-era influence in the Middle East, noting that certain Syrian factions are aligned with Türkiye. “The threat from Syria could evolve into something even more dangerous than the Iranian threat,” the commission stated.
Additionally, the report proposed a significant change in Israel's defense strategy, suggesting a shift from a deterrent approach to a more proactive stance. This would necessitate reallocating 70% of defense resources toward offensive operations and increasing the defense budget for 2025 by nine billion shekels, raising it to 123 billion shekels. The commission indicated that the country would need to sustain higher budgets until 2030.
The recent overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government, due to a surprise jihadist offensive led by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham in late 2024, has led to improved relations between Ankara and Damascus. Turkish officials have assured the new Syrian leadership of their assistance in reconstruction, advocated for the lifting of severe international sanctions, and are looking toward joint operations against Kurdish militants.
In the aftermath of Assad's fall, Israel has initiated a widespread bombing campaign across Syria, targeting military infrastructure and advanced weaponry to prevent them from being acquired by adversaries. The Israeli military has also expanded its presence into more internationally recognized Syrian territories, entering the UN-established buffer zone between the two nations from the Golan Heights.
The relationship between Israel and Türkiye, historically supportive of Palestine, has deteriorated since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of “state terrorism” and “genocide” in the region, while Israel has criticized Turkey’s backing of Hamas. In November, Erdogan announced that Ankara had completely cut diplomatic ties with Israel.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
