Israeli Occupation Foreign Ministry: Turkey Occupies Syria, Iraq, and Cyprus - Sarmad

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched an attack on Turkey, accusing it of being “a state occupying parts of neighboring countries,” citing the presence of thousands of Turkish soldiers and Turkish bases in Syria, Iraq, and Cyprus.

In a post on the “X” platform on Tuesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that “Turkey has the audacity to criticize Israel. But what are the facts on the ground?

Thousands of Turkish soldiers, along with dozens of bases and military sites deployed in Syria, Iraq, and Cyprus.

While Erdogan’s military aggression knows no bounds, Turkey occupies 36% of Cyprus, 5% of Syria, and approximately 2,000 square kilometers of Iraq.

Israel, meanwhile, temporarily controls only 0.1% of Syria, an area intended as a buffer zone to protect its citizens from proven security threats.”

According to the Egyptian Institute for Studies, the broader context of the escalation between Turkey and Israel has shifted from a “war of words and diplomacy” to a protracted strategic conflict and competition among regional alliances, with Syria becoming the most dangerous main arena for direct field confrontations.

The rivalry is not limited to Syrian geography but extends to other vital issues, most notably Eastern Mediterranean alliances. Israel has strengthened its strategic military cooperation with Greece and Cyprus through joint military operation programs explicitly aimed at containing Turkish influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.