“We would change the map in 24 hours” – Türkiye warns Israel

The already tense military and political situation in the Middle East has been further complicated by discussions about a possible confrontation between Ankara and Tel Aviv. A strong statement by a retired Turkish military officer has once again brought the military capabilities of the two countries and the possibility of a direct clash into focus.

According to TodayPress TV, citing the “Global Surveillance” channel on X, Çağlar Özer, a retired Turkish staff colonel and doctor, said that if Israel made the foolish decision to launch a direct attack on Türkiye, Israel’s geography would change within just 24 hours, and Turkish commanders would be drinking coffee in Tel Aviv.

He made the remarks as a stern warning and stressed that the Turkish military was ready. He also said such an attack would be a serious mistake for Israel.

The statement appears to be more of a warning than an indication of an actual military operation plan. Türkiye and Israel do not share a land border. Therefore, for Turkish ground forces to enter Israel, they would need to use Syrian territory or approach from the Mediterranean Sea.

Türkiye is a NATO member and has greater overall military capabilities in terms of conventional weaponry. Israel, meanwhile, is distinguished by its high-tech defence systems, powerful air force and nuclear deterrence capabilities.

The accompanying map animation depicts a possible confrontation between Türkiye and Israel.

Zahra Mammadova