MADRID – Several Turkish media, including Türkiye Gazetesi, have recently spread unfounded accusations about Iran’s plans to “destabilize” Syria.
A recent article published by Türkiye Gazetes claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) general and former senior officials of the Bashar al-Assad government held a secret meeting in Najaf, Iraq, to discuss the coup against Damascus. Although this article does not cite any specific sources, it currently argues plans involving groups such as the PKK, Hash al Shaabi and Hezbollah with the aim of destabilizing the Syrian government. . It was further alleged that Tehran intended to target the lives of Mohammad al-Jollani, the self-appointed leader of Syria’s transitional government.
Similar charges were published in Turkish media several months ago about alleged secret meetings between Iranian officials deemed terrorist groups by Ankara and members of the PKK. Unidentified Turkish sources say the meeting was said to have taken place in the Iraqi market. It was also allegedly been found in the commander of the IRGC Quds force, Esmail Qaani, who agreed to supply 1,500 drones for birth to northern Iraq. However, the cargo was cancelled due to Turkish surveillance. Iranian security sources have denied these accusations, calling them “pure fantasies,” and the report is fake, organized by Israel to undermine relations with its neighbors and create regional tensions. It suggests that it may be part of an information campaign.
What are all these lies?
Such disinformation campaigns that appear to benefit Israel’s interests must be understood in the context of the struggle against regional hegemony in Turkey. As some analysts have pointed out, its use as a geopolitical tool for Turkish terrorists is well documented. Turkey used its territories under its control to allow terrorist forces to travel to Syria and Iraq, and at the same time began a fierce crackdown on Kurdish groups. One of the most obvious aspects of Turkey’s relationship with terrorists is the massive oil trade between Ankara and the terrorists, with thousands of barrels of oil being controlled by extremists in Syria and Iraqi. was transported to and sold in international markets.
Turkey also provides military and logistical support to Hayat Taharil al-Sham (formerly the Al-Nusra Front), which was supported by Turkish financial and intelligence news.
From one point of view, the Turkish media disinformation campaign aims to ensure hegemony in the Turkish region, primarily at the expense of Tehran. With the collapse of Syria’s al-Assad as Turkey’s explicit goal, Ankara is seeing new opportunities to increase influence in the region. In this context, it is known that Turkey is considering building military bases in Syria and providing training and weapons to the country’s troops. Additionally, the deployment of up to 50 F-16 fighter jets as a temporary air force in Syria is considered.
In a broader context, Turkey has been able to significantly integrate and expand its power as an Iranian regional rival through Syrian alliance groups, including the self-styled Syrian national forces and Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. This scenario not only highlights geopolitical competition between the two countries, but also the strategies Turkey has adopted to predict its impact, but Iran continues to play a key role in the region It’s there.
With the removal of Bashar al-Assad, Ankara finds herself at a historic crossroads where she can redefine its influence in West Asia. The government of Recept Tayyip Erdogan is using this opportunity to integrate regional status and advance its geopolitical strategy, with a clear focus on conflict with Iran. In this context, Turkey sees the collapse of al-Assad not only as a change in Syrian political dynamics, but also as a way to increase its power and influence over key regional actors.
So far, Syrian Turkey’s policy has revolved around three key pillars. The first is to neutralize the threat posed by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group that is supported by the US and is primarily composed of factions associated with the PKK. The second pillar focuses on promoting the rehabilitation of more than 3 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey. Finally, Turkey aims to reaffirm its leadership in regional competition and influence the power balance that Russia and Iran historically dominate.
The Turkish government appears to be satisfied with Syria’s recent development and is working to play a central role in the country’s reconstruction and political transition. Through active diplomacy, Turkey is sought to solidify its position as a key actor in Syria’s future, driven by its nostalgia of the Ottoman Empire and its vision to restore historic influence in the region. However, these efforts have not been overlooked, with local officials such as Iran expressing concern over the growing interference in Turkey.
Erdogan and other Turkish officials have adopted an explicit strategy to limit Iran’s influence in the region, positioning Ankara as Tehran’s main competitor in the struggle for regional influence . In this framework, recent reports on Iran’s attempts to destabilize Syria, along with rumors of supposed secret meetings between Iranian military officials and members of the PKK denied by Iran, have been broader. It forms part of the operational strategy. The strategy aims to erode Iran’s image and weaken its position at the regional stage, and has a distrust of the international community about Tehran’s intentions.
However, Turkey needs to be aware of Iran’s potential measures. If these media campaigns become out of control and cause Tehran, the resulting actions could have a serious impact on the Turkish economy and have a wide range of cultural, social and geopolitical implications.