Turkey

NATO-Turkey: An Ambiguous Relationship in an Unpredictable Security Domain

Riley.C.Murray — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 09:09:52 +0000

NATO-Turkey: An Ambiguous Relationship in an Unpredictable Security Domain

The NATO and Turkey relationship has a history of almost 70 years, and it has not always gone smoothly and in harmony, rather this alliance can be described most of the time problematic at best. That fact does not necessarily mean that each side has not mutually benefited from one another though.

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Turkish Drone Doctrine and Theaters of War in the Greater Middle East

Riley.C.Murray — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 06:51:44 +0000

Turkish Drone Doctrine and Theaters of War in the Greater Middle East

Turkey has an advantage in drones in the military-technological revolution. It is a short period when one country is gaining an advantage in the technology and new type of warfare hence any nation has limited time for smart use of this advantage and superiority for geopolitical gains. Nieghbors and adversaries eventually catch up, setting a military and technological equilibrium that would constrain geopolitical adventures of any power.

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Turkey’s Drone War in Syria – A Red Team View

SWJED — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 15:59:03 +0000

Turkey’s Drone War in Syria – A Red Team View SWJED Thu, 04/16/2020 - 11:59am

Since the Idlib operation, a number of articles have appeared with glowing reviews on the sophistication of Turkey’s homegrown drone force and its tactical effectiveness in Syria. While decidedly impactful, a review of the operation suggests there are some shortcomings as well. These include questions about the Turkish drones’ operational reach, lethality and survivability. Any analysis of the implications of Turkey’s demonstrated UAS strength, particularly their potential role in other conflict zones, should consider these potential vulnerabilities as well.

What to Make of Turkey’s Recent Dust-Up in Syria

SWJED — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:22:51 +0000

What to Make of Turkey’s Recent Dust-Up in Syria SWJED Tue, 03/17/2020 - 4:22pm

Putin’s effort to divide NATO through the recruitment of Erdogan has run aground in Syria, where the Russian-backed forces of Bashar al-Assad were recently battered by superior Turkish aircraft and weaponry. After Syrian and Russian aircraft attacked a Turkish column and killed 33 (some report as many as 100) Turkish troops, Erdogan’s forces downed Syrian fighter planes, destroyed Syrian tanks and artillery pieces and killed Syrian soldiers.

Amid Humanitarian Crisis, Syrian Regime Intensifies Idlib Offensive

SWJED — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 05:28:52 +0000

Amid Humanitarian Crisis, Syrian Regime Intensifies Idlib Offensive SWJED Fri, 02/07/2020 - 12:28am

Of the three million people in Idlib province, U.N. sources estimate more than one million have been displaced—with approximately 586,000 displaced since December 1, and the number is rising rapidly. With Turkey and other nations closing their borders, and harsh winter conditions in the region, what is the humanitarian situation in Idlib?

Who Used ISIS Tactics to Behead an Air Force Academy Cadet in the July 15th Military Uprising in Turkey?

SWJED — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 15:11:16 +0000

Who Used ISIS Tactics to Behead an Air Force Academy Cadet in the July 15th Military Uprising in Turkey? SWJED Sun, 02/02/2020 - 10:11am

"The Small Wars Journal" has published two articles by the author. After publication of the first article, “Who Was Behind the July 15 Uprising in Turkey,” a British tourist who stayed at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s hotel on the night of the July 15, 2016, coup attempt reached out to the author. The tourist’s contributions, which were published in the second "SWJ" article, “Dark Points in the July 15 Military Uprising: Was President Erdogan Really at the Hotel?,” shed light on whether Erdogan had stayed at the hotel until late at night on July 15. After the second article was published, several Turkish Air Force Academy (AFA) cadets who witnessed the unsuspecting involvement of fellow cadets in the coup attempt reached out to the author and shared their experiences and knowledge.

IRGC Threat in the Middle East: How Safe Are Americans in Turkey?

SWJED — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 14:11:24 +0000

IRGC Threat in the Middle East: How Safe Are Americans in Turkey? SWJED Sat, 01/25/2020 - 9:11am

The IRGC and its military wing, the Quds Force, have been two of the top security issues in the Middle East for several years. The Quds Force, for example, is involved in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, maintains close relationships with terrorist groups in the Middle East and, in 2019, and was designated a terrorist group by the United States. The IRGC, meanwhile, has stepped up its efforts to target Americans and achieved its goal of increasing tensions in the region.

A Month After U.S. Withdrawal, What is the State of Play in Syria?

SWJED — Sat, 09 Nov 2019 11:06:40 +0000

A Month After U.S. Withdrawal, What is the State of Play in Syria? SWJED Sat, 11/09/2019 - 6:06am

In the month since President Trump’s October 6 phone call with Turkish President Erdogan and the announced U.S. withdrawal from northeast Syria, the picture on the ground has changed immensely. Moscow has emerged as the key power broker in Syria. The Kurds, looking for protection from Turkish forces, are in Russian-brokered talks with the Assad government. These discussions could pave the way for an expanded Syrian government presence in the northeast for the first time in years.

Dark Points in the July 15 Military Uprising: Was President Erdogan Really at the Hotel in Marmaris?

SWJED — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 05:21:57 +0000

Dark Points in the July 15 Military Uprising: Was President Erdogan Really at the Hotel in Marmaris? SWJED Sun, 10/06/2019 - 1:21am

Small Wars Journal on July 7, 2019 published this author’s article[1] “Who Was Behind the July 15, 2016 Military Uprising in Turkey?” and then retweeted it on July 15, 2019 the third anniversary of the coup attempt. In the meantime, a reader of Small Wars Journal, who is referred to hereafter as respondent X, who is from the United Kingdom (UK), reached out to article’s author to speak about the coup attempt and article.

Who Was Behind the July 15, 2016 Military Uprising in Turkey?

SWJED — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 05:32:27 +0000

Who Was Behind the July 15, 2016 Military Uprising in Turkey? SWJED Wed, 07/03/2019 - 1:32am

The July 15 military uprising of 2016 has continuously served as a pretext for the Turkish government to crackdown its opponents. The government has made up a flimsy story of an attempted coup, including blame for the Americans behind it, and expects its people to believe the story without question. However, many details of the uprising are full of contradictions and dark points.

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