Israel and Turkey: One pilot’s split-second decision from unwanted war

by · Greek City Times

Israel and Turkey are operating on the edge of a conflict that neither government wants. Both capitals have strong strategic reasons to keep the temperature low — yet those calculations stop at the cockpit door.

Israel is already heavily committed across Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen. Turkey’s own advanced missile defence system is not expected to become operational until 2030, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues to seek F-35 fighter jets that only Washington can approve. Caution, in other words, serves both sides.

Izmir, Turkey – June 5, 2011 : Photo of the new F-35 cockpit mock up at air show in 2nd Main Jet Base-Cigli Turkey Was then removed from the Program

That caution, however, does not always reach the pilots flying over Syria.

When Israeli aircraft recently struck Turkish-aligned militias, Turkish F-16s closed in and issued warnings before both sides disengaged. Israel had already destroyed the airbases at T4 and Palmyra that Ankara had hoped to use — arriving only hours ahead of Turkish forces. The two air forces now share the same contested skies while their political leaders exchange accusations of genocide for domestic audiences.

The fragile arrangement holds because young pilots continue to choose restraint in moments measured in seconds.

Cold wars rarely turn hot because a government decides on war. They turn hot because someone in a cockpit is forced to decide very fast.

Sources: Reuters, The New York Times

Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.
Advertising1