(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah - Turkey's projection of its military presence in the Middle East has become a source of worry. There are Turkish forces deep inside Syrian and Iraqi territory. Turkey's military intelligence had been blamed by Egyptian authorities for being involved in the Sinai insurgency, siding with the Islamists, while Lebanese sources have mentioned the activities of Turkish agents in destabilizing Lebanon. In 2014, Turkey deployed a 4,000-strong military contingent in Qatar. In 2018, Turkey completed constructing a $50 million training base in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu to be run by the Turks for 5,000-10,000 recruits from Somalia and other African countries. Moreover, the Sudanese government agreed to lease the port of Suakin, along the Red Sea shore, to Turkey for restoration as a major military and civilian port. Suakin was once the naval headquarters of the Ottoman fleet in the Red Sea. The writer, an analyst for the Jerusalem Center, was Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence.
2018-01-25 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive