Tensions between Israel and Turkey have risen following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria [Getty]
The Israeli military has launched new Turkish language accounts on the X and Telegram social media platforms amid a recent rise in tensions between Tel Aviv and Ankara.
The account features senior Israeli military official Arye Sharuz Shalicar, who has a colourful past as a young gang member in Berlin, as its spokesperson.
In the first post, Shalicar said “Hello Turkey, welcome to the official X account of the [Israeli military]. This platform will be used to provide reliable and real-time updates about developments in the region. Follow us.”Shalicar was born to Iranian Jewish parents in Berlin and was a member of criminal gangs in the city’s Wedding district, later moving to Israel in 2001.
The Israeli army already has accounts in six other languages.
The creation of a Turkish language account comes amid a deterioration of relations over Israel’s war on Gaza, which killed over 61,000 Palestinians and Israel’s recent attacks and incursions in southern Syria.
In May 2024 Turkey announced it was suspending all trade Israel due to the war on Gaza.
Ankara is also a key backer of the rebel groups which overthrew Assad in December 2024, and has repeatedly condemned Israeli attacks on Syrian territory.
On Monday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against any intervention in Syria, saying “we will not allow them to divide Syria as they imagine.”
Although not mentioning Israel by name, the statement comes following reports that Israel is lobbying the US to allow Russia to keep its military bases in Syria and to prevent the growth of Turkish influence in Syria.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, has said that Israel demanded the “full demilitarization of southern Syria from troops of the new Syrian regime in the Quneitra, Daraa, and Suweida provinces.”
He also ordered the Israeli military to prepare to “defend” the country’s Druze minority following clashes in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana which has a large Druze community.
In January, a committee established by the Israeli government warned that it must prepare for a war with Turkey.
