23.08.2026 00:20
The Greek press brought the rising tension between Israel and Turkey over Syria to the forefront with scandalous news regarding the Turkish military presence in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In analyses featured in Greece-based defense publications, it was claimed that if a potential Israel-Turkey conflict were to spill over to Cyprus, Turkish military elements in the TRNC could become a "potential target."
In assessments in the Greek press, it was claimed that, based on Israel's stance against Turkey in Syria, similar security calculations could come to the agenda regarding the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus. The Greek publication cited Israel's attacks on the Abu Zuhur Air Base in Syria as one of the major points of Turkey-Israel tension. While noting that the possibility of Turkey increasing its military presence and capacity in Syria is being closely monitored by Israel, a scenario regarding Cyprus was put forward based on the possibility of the tension between the two countries turning into a direct military conflict. The analysis drew attention to Cyprus's geographical proximity to Israel, and suggested that the Turkish Armed Forces elements stationed in the TRNC could be included in Israel's military calculations in a possible regional conflict.
TURKISH MILITARY SHOWN AS A POSSIBLE TARGET
In the striking section of the analysis in the Greek press, the Turkish military presence in the TRNC was directly addressed within a possible target scenario. The news focused on the possibility of Turkey strengthening its military capacity on the island, and evaluated the air and naval capabilities that the Turkish Armed Forces possess and could develop in the future in the TRNC. In this context, it was claimed that the Ercan Airport area and military points where Turkish warships could be deployed could become targets in a possible Israel-Turkey conflict.
ATTENTION DRAWN TO TURKEY'S POWER IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
While evaluating the Turkish military presence in the TRNC, the Greek defense press also gave extensive coverage to Turkey's air and naval power in the Eastern Mediterranean. In the analysis pointing to Cyprus's strategic location at the center of the Eastern Mediterranean, it was argued that Turkey's military presence in the TRNC is one of the factors to be considered in a possible Turkey-Israel tension in the region.
These assessments came to the fore in the Greek press at a time when Israel continues its defense and security cooperation with Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration.
THEY ALSO BROUGHT NATO'S ARTICLE 5 UP FOR DISCUSSION
In the news in the Greek defense press, NATO's Article 5, which regulates collective defense, was also brought up for discussion through the Turkish military presence in the TRNC.
Along with the Turkish military presence in Syria and other regions, the status of the Turkish forces stationed in the TRNC in terms of NATO's collective defense mechanism was questioned.