Turks Doubt NATO Support in Case of War With Israel, Poll Shows

A recent poll indicates a significant lack of confidence among Turkish citizens regarding NATO's support in a potential conflict with Israel. The MetroPoll survey revealed that only 28.1% of respondents believe Turkey would receive backing from the alliance, while a substantial 62.9% expressed doubt.

The poll was conducted amid heightened tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv. These tensions were further exacerbated by recent Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in Syria, located about 70 kilometers from the Turkish border. Israeli officials stated the strikes aimed to prevent the deployment of Turkish forces in the area, a claim both Turkish and Syrian officials denied.

Adding to the diplomatic complexity, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barak, reportedly dismissed Israeli intelligence regarding Turkish troop movements toward the base, suggesting a possible miscommunication between Israeli military, Mossad, and the Prime Minister's office. This situation has drawn criticism from within Israel, with the newspaper Haaretz cautioning against a potentially "meaningless conflict" with Turkey, a scenario the U.S. ambassador also warned could lead to direct military confrontation.