Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey’s military has been ordered to stop Israeli
operations around Cyprus.

Western diplomats said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan
has ordered the General Staff to prevent any incursions of Israel Air Force
or Navy platforms around Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.

The diplomats said Erdogan issued the order in late April to demonstrate Turkey’s intention to stop offshore energy exploration by Israel or the Republic of Cyprus in areas claimed by Ankara.

“This comprises a dangerous escalation that could lead to unforeseen
consequences,” a diplomat familiar with Erdogan’s order said.

On May 17, the Turkish military reported a confrontation between two of its F-16 multi-role fighters with an Israeli aircraft near Cyprus. The
military said the Israeli aircraft, which was not identified, violated the
air space of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus five times before it was chased away by Ankara’s F-16s.

“Our planes carried out patrol flights in KKTC [Northern Cyprus] air
space, preventing the said plane from continuing to violate KKTC air space,” the Turkish military said.

This marked the first time that the Turkish military confronted an
Israeli aircraft in the eastern Mediterranean. The diplomats said the
incident reflected a new Turkish policy to prevent Israel or the Republic of
Cyprus from offshore exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

The diplomats said the unmarked Israeli aircraft was believed to been
sent by the Israel Air Force to probe Turkish defenses around Cyprus, 38
percent of which is controlled by Ankara. They said the Israel Air Force
deployed combat aircraft nearby to respond to any Turkish fire.

“There was never a serious threat of Turkish fire, but the Israelis were
not taking chances,” the diplomat said.

The diplomats said Erdogan has ordered the Turkish Air Force to treat
Israel as Greece. For years, the Turkish Air Force confronted the Hellenic
Air Force in mock air battles over disputed portions of the Aegean Sea.

  Aegean Sea, Ankara’s F-16s, Israel Air Force, Recep Erdogan, Turkey’s Erdogan orders block on Israeli energy exploration in eastern Mediterranean, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus