Israeli navy acting to deter Turkish maritime aggression as Ankara encroaches on areas of interest

AUGUST 31, 2026 20:48The Israeli navy is acting to deter Turkish maritime aggression in response to the Turkish navy traveling into new areas of interest to Israel, The Jerusalem Post has learned.Essentially, the Israeli navy's attitude is that if Turkey thinks moving its navy into new areas will be consequence-free, the IDF will make it clear that this can come at a cost.The Post understands that the IDF is on high alert for any new Turkish moves by sea, land, or air, including in areas near Greece and Cyprus, and of course with respect to Syria and Gaza.The IDF recognizes that Turkey has an extremely large and powerful navy and cannot be ignored.Still, the largest danger faced by Turkey is perceived as being through Syria, with the IDF attacking a Syrian air base not long ago to try to prevent Ankara from installing a new radar and other assets there which might compromise Israel's freedom of action.Syrian President for a transitional phase Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan pose as they shake hands after a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, February 4, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/CAGLA GURDOGAN)Israel has also staunchly opposed – so far successfully - any role for Turkey in the International Stabilization Force (ISF) peacekeeping entity for the Gaza Strip.The Post understands the IDF views Turkey's commitment to the Syrian regime as very deep and with religious connotations, whereas the commitment to Gaza is more general and also about seeking regional influence.On July 26, the Post exclusively stated that even as Turkey and Egypt are having a renaissance in certain areas militarily, senior Israeli defense sources sense opportunities for Israel and Cairo to work together to counterbalance Ankara's naval interests.Egypt, Israel may realize benefit of coordinating against TurkeyWatching Iran choke the world's economic interests in the Strait of Hormuz and with Turkey rising as a power in the Mediterranean, both the Jewish state and Egypt may eventually realize they have an interest in coordinating even more against any encroachment in the area by Ankara.Until now, Israeli naval and Egyptian naval units have cooperated in the framework of international drills going back years, but neither has been seriously challenged in the Mediterranean.But that is only one narrative, and at least two others exist.Despite the optimistic narrative, Egyptian Defense Minister Ashraf Salem Zaher traveled to Ankara on July 13, which, according to some more pessimistic observers, represented a profound structural shift in the geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean.This pessimistic narrative states that Egypt and Turkey are moving closer together and potentially toward counterbalancing Israel.All of this goes back to the original third narrative, that until now Turkey and Egypt have wanted nothing to do with one another, even if Cairo has also not helped Jerusalem against Ankara.This narrative, which was true until the last year, was based on the idea that for over a decade, ideological enmity between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was a permanent feature of the regional landscape.Sisi had blamed Erdogan for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, which took over Egypt from 2012 to 2013, and the Turkish president had blamed the Egyptian president for forcing the Brotherhood out of power.But Turkey and Egypt have been gaining something new, especially in recent months: Sisi is securing access to advanced military technology from Turkey without Western human rights conditions, while Erdogan is gaining a massive conventional partner to legitimize his maritime ambitions.Moreover, the military cooperation between Cairo and Ankara has quickly evolved past superficial diplomacy into deep, structural integration. Their joint maneuvers over the past months showed what appeared to be an alarming level of operational alignment.Turkey's Anatolian Eagle aerial exercises integrated Egyptian pilots for training under simulated high-threat environments alongside Ankara's assets. This was immediately followed by the Egyptian Golden Eagle special forces drills, which focused on command interoperability on multiple fronts and theaters.According to some observers, these have not been routine bilateral military drills, but rather a process to synthesize the doctrines of two of the region's most powerful militaries.Cairo's concerns about Ankara may align with Israel's interestsSenior Israeli navy sources believe that despite Egypt and Turkey turning a new, highly positive leaf in their relations, Cairo's concerns about Ankara taking advantage specifically in the maritime arena work naturally with Israeli interests.Sisi is highly sensitive about ongoing issues relating to Libya and other areas where Erdogan's interests might differ.In these areas, Egypt could work not just with Israel, but also with Cyprus and Greece to counterbalance Turkey's growing aggression in the Mediterranean, the Post understands.In late June, the Greek Navy Chief, Vice-Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, visited Israel and met with Naval Commander Vice-Admiral Eyal Harel and Shayetet 13 Navy SEALs, with the sides deepening the joint mechanisms between the two navies.Pessimists talk about Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and some European countries uniting against Turkey and Egypt.In either scenario, the navy is looking into new tactics, including defending against naval drone swarms, something that is already a major threat by air.Follow us on Google