From Tehran to Ankara? Fears in Turkey over Israel's next move

Israel's military campaign against Iran is part of a broader strategy to encircle Turkey and derail its regional ambitions, the head of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahçeli, warned on Tuesday.

Bahçeli, a key ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, claimed Israel's "real objective" was to sabotage Turkey's efforts to build a region free of terrorism and to isolate it strategically.

"The political and strategic goal of Israel is clear," he said. "To surround Anatolia and sabotage Turkey's path toward a terrorism-free future on behalf of its masters."

His remarks came days after Israel launched a major cross-border offensive on 13 June, escalating conflict with Iran. While Israeli officials have framed the strikes, which have killed at least 585 people and wounded over 1,300, as "defensive", Bahçeli warned they had risked spiralling into a far more dangerous confrontation.

He described the conflict as a growing threat to both regional and global security, saying it had plunged the region into "a climate of fear and uncertainty". He cautioned that the Israeli-Iranian confrontation could soon breach regional boundaries and spiral into a nuclear crisis.

Bahçeli condemned Israel as "the hired gun of global imperialism", accusing its leadership of thriving on war and destruction and acting with no regard for law, ethics, or human rights.

He singled out the killings of civilians in Gaza, particularly women and children, as evidence of what he called Israel’s unchecked "appetite for devastation".

He also criticised the United States, urging President Donald Trump to "abandon his contradictory and confusing statements" and support genuine peace.

"The Turkish people stand firmly on the side of peace," he said. "Our strategic imperative is to surround our geography with a belt of stability and dialogue."

Turkey prepares for wider escalation

On Wednesday, President Erdogan defended Iran's right to respond to Israeli strikes, calling Tehran’s retaliation "legitimate" and warning that Turkey would not remain passive if the conflict escalates further.

Erdogan also labelled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "the biggest threat to regional security", days after accusing Israel of trying to provoke a broader war.

He said Turkey had placed all government institutions on alert and was preparing "for every possible scenario", warning that "no one should dare test us".

Earlier this week, Erdogan ordered a rapid expansion of Turkey’s missile production capacity, citing the need to boost national deterrence amid rising regional instability.

Following a cabinet meeting on Monday, he confirmed plans to accelerate the development of medium and long-range missile systems.