‘Iron Fist’: If not now, when?

By Ihsan Sefa, Retired Air Staff Colonel, Turkish Armed Forces

With its aggressive policies, Israel, led by the Netanyahu government, wants to drag the entire Middle East and the Muslim world into a massive war. Israel continues to occupy the territories of South Lebanon, Southern Syria and, of course, the Palestinian state. Tel Aviv will clearly not be satisfied with this and will intensify its aggression and expand the occupation.

Türkiye is the main target

We see signs of this in every way. The question ‘which country is next?’ is already being asked around the world.

While the answer ‘Iran’ is coming to the fore, Türkiye is no less a target for Israel than Tehran. One does not need to be a soothsayer or decipher secret plans to realize this.

The message conveyed to Türkiye through bombings

Israel clearly demonstrates this through its statements and even actions:

The Israeli army continues its occupation of Syria, which began after the overthrow of Assad, with intensive bombardments. Since December, Israel has carried out more than 700 strikes in Syria. Recently, the T4 military base has been subjected to special strikes. The world press reported that the Damascus government wanted to transfer this base to Türkiye.

Israel is certainly not happy about this. Tel Aviv sees a possible Turkish base in Syria as an obstacle to its aggressive aims.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz threatened Damascus, saying, ‘if you allow enemy forces to enter Syria, you will pay a heavy price’, and the Israeli Army Radio announced that the bombing was a message to Erdoğan. Similar statements followed one after another.

Netanyahu’s main ally

Of course, Netanyahu is not alone in his aggressive behavior. The United States, which is planning to withdraw from the Ukrainian front, is also focused on the Eastern Mediterranean. It is not for nothing that the Israeli press, analyzing the bombing of Syria, stresses that Türkiye is no longer a NATO ally in spirit. In Israel, meetings with the US and Netanyahu’s visit to Washington follow one after another.

Undoubtedly, Israel does not want a stable and unitary government in Syria. It sees Türkiye as the biggest obstacle here.

A siege from the Eastern Mediterranean

To remove this obstacle, Israel is not only occupying and bombing Syria but is also trying to encircle Türkiye through the Eastern Mediterranean. Recent military exercises in this region and Israeli activity in Greek Cyprus are attracting attention. Israel may even get Qatar on its side.

This is also the reason Greek Cyprus trusts Israel more than Greece. If you remember, Vasilis Palmas, the defense minister of South Cyprus, said that Israel would have the privilege of using bases in his country, and said: ‘The Greeks may be our brothers, but Israel is our neighbor. The Israelis are right next door to us. They can come to Cyprus in three minutes.’

The bill presented to the US House of Representatives the other day, called the ‘American-Hellenic-Israeli Eastern Mediterranean Counterterrorism and Maritime Security Partnership Act of 2025’, is essentially aimed at formalizing the alliance formed against Türkiye. Never mind Trump’s praise for Erdoğan. Türkiye must respond to the siege in the Eastern Mediterranean with regional alliances. Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia are Türkiye’s alliance potential. Türkiye should utilize this potential.

The ‘Second Israel’ plan is still on track

On the other hand, Israel continues to strengthen its proxy forces in Syria. For Israel, it is unacceptable for the PKK/PYD to lay down their arms. They even want to turn the opportunity that has arisen since the fall of Assad in their favor. Israel is trying to draw a new map on which it will neighbor a ‘second Israel’.

The supply of weapons to the PKK/PYD continues. The White House has also announced that it will not only withdraw troops from Syria but will increase its military presence in the Middle East.

Israel’s preparations for war

Obviously, all of this is preparation for war. No one believes that Israel is interested in peace and its own security. But Netanyahu is not only not stopping the war, but he is also preparing to start an even bigger war.

It is impossible to stop Israeli aggression or any war with speeches. Experience shows this. In fact, Israel sees it as a weakness. Instead of taking a step back, it intensifies the violence and madness.

Economic sanctions also have limited effect.

The main force to stop the war: the Turkish Armed Forces

Obviously, aggression or war can only be stopped by a force equal to the threat. Therefore, the Turkish army is Türkiye’s main guarantee against this threat. The Turkish Army must always be ready to face this threat. This readiness must be backed up by alternative weapons and defense technologies to NATO. In this respect, our national defense industry is the apple of our eye. Of course, relations with our partners outside NATO must also be developed in this context.

Can Israeli aggression be stopped by the Syrian Government alone?

Building such an equivalent force also requires building international alliances. Especially when you are facing a bloc led by great powers like Israel and the US. Relations with the Shar’a government are of course important. But will Türkiye be able to stop US and Israeli aggression with the help of the Shar’a government alone? So far, the new Damascus government has not lifted a finger against the Israeli occupation. On the other hand, what is the military strength of this government?

Türkiye urgently needs to renew its cooled relations with Russia and Iran, reassemble the disbanded Astana table and acquire strong allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. Otherwise, you will have no choice but to make speeches. As we have said, a force can only be stopped by creating a counterforce.

The ‘Second Israel’ project must be buried in the grave

Of course, this also has a counterpart on the field of conflict. The most important blow to Israel’s plans is to bury the ‘second Israel’ project in the grave so that it cannot be revived. In other words, to do away with the PKK/PYD completely. And this is a weapons job. Disarmament is not possible with letters or public opinion alone.

The ‘iron fist’ option that Erdogan talked about should be on the agenda now. In other words, the PKK/PYD, Israel’s proxy in the region, must be dealt the necessary blow. There are international conditions for this. The key is to have such a strategy and to mobilize militarily.

To be a pioneer of all humanity

Only in this way can Türkiye’s security be ensured, only in this way can Israel be put in its place. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his statement after the Eid prayers, said, ‘May God make Zionist Israel perish.’ The realization of this wish, which we agree with, depends on these steps to be taken.

In addition, with this move, Türkiye will not only ensure its own security but also protect the entire Islamic world from the scourge of Israel. Türkiye will realize its role as the protector of Muslims in the true sense of the word. In fact, it will not only be the protector of Muslims and the Middle East… It will lead the whole humanity from Eurasia to Africa and Latin America.

Israeli Zionism must be taught the necessary lesson!