Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jul 15: The recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran has dramatically reshaped the power equations in the Middle East, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leadership severely weakened and its proxy forces crippled. In the aftermath, Israeli strategic analyst Dr Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak believes a new Muslim superpower has emerged in the region — Turkey.
Writing in the Hebrew daily Maariv, Yanarocak, a researcher at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies and the Moshe Dayan Centre, stated, “With our own hands, we have made Turkey the most powerful Muslim country in the Middle East.”
According to him, Israel’s successful Operation ‘Am Kalavi’ against Iran significantly diminished Tehran’s regional influence, leaving a vacuum that Turkey has now filled. “After defeating Iran, we turned Turkey into the most powerful Muslim country. Now, there are two strong powers in the region — Israel and Turkey. This rivalry will only intensify,” he said.
Yanarocak credited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s political acumen for the recent surrender of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), marking the end of nearly four decades of armed conflict. He argued that Erdogan’s alliance with Turkish nationalists and his push to unify the nation against perceived regional threats played a major role in the PKK’s decision to lay down arms.
“It’s a brilliant move by Erdogan. By calling for national unity, he has not only consolidated power but is also likely to win over Kurdish support, thereby weakening the opposition,” Yanarocak said.
The analyst also noted that Kurdish political forces had allied with secular Turks in previous elections. Winning their support could enable Erdogan to push for constitutional changes that would allow him to secure a third term in office. “This is classic divide and rule. When the time comes, Erdogan and Kurdish nationalists will stand united against the secular opposition,” he added.
Yanarocak further stated that the U.S.’s unwillingness to support a Kurdish state in Syria or Turkey played in Erdogan’s favour, helping him consolidate both domestic and regional power.
The war may have battered Iran, but its fallout has elevated Turkey’s geopolitical standing — a shift that could redefine alliances and rivalries in the region for years to come.