Israeli media says Turkey was ready to intervene over Kurdish incursion into Iran

What Happened

Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 reported that Turkey was prepared to provide Iran with aerial military support to prevent a Kurdish incursion during the Israeli-US war on Iran that began in February. According to Israeli sources cited by Kan 11, Ankara warned it would intervene, with discussions about offering Iran aerial defence against Israeli and US air strikes. The report linked this to US President Donald Trump's statements that he discouraged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from entering the conflict, claiming he 'could have gotten into the fight.' Israeli outlet i24News separately reported that Turkey thwarted an Israeli-US-backed Kurdish invasion of Iran, derailing months of planning by Mossad and the CIA. The New York Times reported that the plan aimed to topple the government in Tehran and reinstate former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The reports, if accurate, indicate a significant Turkish role in countering Israeli-US objectives in Iran, exacerbating Israeli concerns about Turkey's expanding regional influence. Israeli officials view Turkey as a growing threat, citing its military and political reach across the Eastern Mediterranean, Syria, the Horn of Africa, and North Africa. The episode also underscores Trump's claimed personal diplomacy in restraining Erdogan, potentially impacting Israel's strategic calculations.

Watch For

Watch for official Turkish or Iranian responses to these Israeli media reports; any further disclosures from Mossad or CIA planning; and shifts in Israeli-Turkish diplomatic and military postures, particularly regarding Syria and the broader region.