Image source: topwar.ru
Ankara provides patronage to the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Apart from Turkey, no country in the world has recognized this state entity, unlike the internationally recognized Greek part of the island.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Turkey is unhappy with the supply of Israeli Barak MX air defense systems and other weapons to Cyprus. These complexes, capable of hitting targets within a radius of 150 kilometers, have already been spotted on the island.
This information is reported by the publication Middle East Eye, based in London.
According to him, Turkish officials fear that close defense cooperation between Israel and Cyprus could have undesirable consequences for the security of the Eastern Mediterranean.
- one of the Turkish media outlets quotes a source from the Turkish Ministry of Defense.
In this country, the idea of Ankara's seizure of all of Cyprus is increasingly being heard, until it has become a serious threat. In the late 90s, Turkey almost started a war with Cyprus over its plans to deploy Russian S-300 air defense systems on the island, which Nicosia promptly abandoned.
Image source: topwar.ru
Turkish military expert Arda Mevlutoglu believes that the Israeli Barak MX is much more dangerous. In his opinion, it poses a serious threat to the Turkish Air Force and ground units in Northern Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, as its radar is capable of detecting artillery, mortar and missile batteries at a distance of up to 100 kilometers.
