INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
fervent loyalists have been boasting about a major victory for Turkey.In a recent article for Daily Sabah, Hilal Kaplan illustrates what has
been at the core of Turkish propaganda in West Asia
Kaplan, in her article titled "Iran is reaping what it sowed," claims that Tehran has been pursuing what she calls a "Neo-Persian Empire."
She cites former Iranian officials, journalists, and presidents to support her argument
However, several important and misleading issues undermine her claims.The individuals Kaplan references as sources are unreliable because
they either lacked decision-making authority in foreign policy matters, or even if they were involved in the process, did not have
strategy has centered around two key objectives: strengthening its domestic defense capabilities and supporting like-minded actors
challenging Western imperialism
The development of missile and drone technology, spurred by sanctions that restrict arms imports, exemplifies the former
The Resistance Axis is not solely dependent on Syria; Hezbollah was a significant force well before Damascus became a logistical hub, and
Yemeni forces have meanwhile been launching attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding waters targeting United States and Israeli interests
They have also launched successful missile and drone attacks on occupied Palestine, despite being under constant attacks by a United States
-led coalition.Meanwhile, Since October 2023, there have been virtually no operations launched against Israel from Syria, because Assad,
similar to the current de facto rulers of Syria, did not wish to directly engage with Israel
This is while Western, Turkish, and some Arab media outlets have been portraying Resistance forces as proxies of Iran, not independent
states or groups that make decisions on their own
All these examples highlight that the Axis is a network of aligned actors with individual capabilities, not simply a direct extension of
This policy has not changed, and Tehran has called on all parties to adhere to these principles
Iran has been in contact with Syrian opposition groups for a long time, and its presence in the country was aimed at preventing the
advancement of Daesh terrorists and the spread of terrorism throughout the region
Unlike Turkey, Tehran's presence was not for the purpose of land acquisition, and the government in Damascus retained full authority in
all phases of the fight against terrorism
This contrasts sharply with Turkey's actions which have been seen as interventions that do not fully respect Syrian sovereignty.The
presence of United States and Turkish military forces in Syria significantly undermines efforts to protect the country's territorial
integrity and national sovereignty
The Turkish presence, along with its backing of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the attempt to destabilize the Assad government, has created
opportunities for Israel to decimate Syrian military capabilities and infrastructure
In the past few weeks, Tel Aviv has effectively destroyed Syrian naval vessels, sea-to-sea missiles, helicopters, and airplanes, including
the entire fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets, along with stockpiles of ammunition in attacks on various military bases
achieved some short-term gains with the fall of Assad, a potential rise in militancy poses a significant threat to its long-term interests
Additionally, the unwavering United States support for Kurdish forces in Syria further restricts Ankara's maneuverability within the
However, Ankara's actions have, in fact, been a key factor in enabling Washington's support for Israel
Despite harsh rhetoric emanating from Ankara against Israel, little practical action has been taken to back up these claims
Economic relations between Turkey and Israel have significantly expanded over the past two decades
According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, bilateral trade volume rose from $1.41 billion in 2002 to $8.91 billion by 2022, with Turkey
consistently maintaining a trade surplus
remains the priority.Following the Israeli attacks on Gaza, this disconnect between words and deeds continues
Despite claims by Turkey that trade with Israel was suspended in protest of the Gaza conflict, investigative journalist Metin Cihan and
others have revealed that trade between the two countries has not ceased
adopted a cautious approach to domestic protests against Israel
While demonstrations have erupted across Turkey reflecting public anger towards Israel, the government has strictly controlled these
Allowing these protests to occur under close government oversight suggests an intention to prevent uncontrolled civil unrest that could
