Opinions - Middle East and North Africa

Erdogan’s Palestine Rally in Istanbul: All Quiet in Ankara

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 29 October 2023

This week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered two passionate speeches, strongly criticizing the Israeli government. This is not his first critique of Israel since the recent outbreak of the Israel-Palestine crisis, which began on October 7.

Demirden Kılıçlar Operasyonu

by Enes Esen, published on 21 October 2023

İsrail önümüzdeki günlerde Gazze’ye düzenleyeceği yeni kara harekatına son şeklini veriyor. İsrailli yetkililerin açıklamalarına göre bu operasyonun amacı bir daha dirilemeyecek şekilde Hamas’ın yok edilmesi.

Turkey and Israel: Diplomacy Under the Shadow of Gaza

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 20 October 2023

In this current crisis, Turkey has pursued a diplomatic approach aimed at de-escalation, facilitating humanitarian aid access for Palestinian civilians. Nevertheless, the mounting tension, especially if Israel were to launch a ground operation in Gaza, could once again imperil the ongoing normalization efforts between the two countries.

The Downing of a Drone in Syria: Unlikely to Worsen Turkish-US Relations

by Enes Esen, published on 14 October 2023

The typical pattern for the Turkish government, whenever there is a high-profile terrorist attack on its soil, is as follows: issuing a firm condemnation of terrorism, conducting numerous arrests of individuals allegedly linked to the organization blamed for the attack, and launching airstrikes against facilities of terrorist organizations in Syria or Iraq.

How Turkey Reacted to Hamas Attacks

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 9 October 2023

Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 has mostly received a welcoming reaction in Turkey. While President Erdogan has called on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides to exercise restraint, other Turkish political leaders have mostly supported the Palestinians. They deliberately avoided criticizing Hamas militants for violence against Israeli civilians.

Hamas’ın İsrail’e Saldırısına İlişkin instituDE Uzmanlarının Değerlendirmeleri

by Enes Esen, Haşim Tekineş and Mehmet Çelik, published on 7 October 2023

Hamas’ın İsrail’e Saldırısına İlişkin instituDE Uzmanları Enes Esen, Haşim Tekineş ve Mehmet Çelik'in Değerlendirmeleri

Reports - Middle East and North Africa

Turkey's Vision For a New Syria

by Mustafa Enes Esen, Haşim Tekineş, Mehmet Demirbaş and Servet Akman, published on 14 February 2026

This report analyzes Turkey’s vision for Syria following the fall of the Assad family and the rise of the HTS under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa. In this regard, it focuses on the foreign actors that, alongside Turkey, now have the greatest ability to shape Syria’s future: namely the United States and Israel.

Videos - Middle East and North Africa

Oil, Power, and Politics: Inside the Turkey-Iraq Pipeline War

July 28, 2025

Haşim Tekineş

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 28 July 2025

In this video, we break down the complex dispute between Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

Suriye Türkiye için Zafer mi Zaafiyet mi?

July 17, 2025

Haşim Tekineş

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 17 July 2025

Suriye'de artan gerilim bir kere daha bölgedeki dengelerin nezaketini ortaya koydu. İsrail ise Şam'ı vurarak Suriye konusunda kararlılığını ortaya koydu? Türkiye nasıl cevap verecek?

İran'ın 13. Günü

July 13, 2025

Haşim Tekineş

Mehmet Akif Koç

by Haşim Tekineş and Mehmet Akif Koç, published on 13 July 2025/

İran'ın İsrail'le yaşadığı askeri gerilim İran'ı nasıl etkiledi?

Israel vs. Iran: What It Means for Turkey

June 26, 2025

Haşim Tekineş

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 26 June 2025

In this in-depth analysis, we explore how Turkey is responding to the Israel–Iran war and what it means for Ankara’s security, its role in the Middle East, and its delicate balance between its alliances and rivalries. From Turkey’s historical neutrality in regional conflicts to its growing tensions with both Israel and Iran, this video takes a closer look at the biggest geopolitical shift in the Middle East — and how it could redefine Turkey’s future.

İran ve İsrail Arasında Rusya

June 25, 2025

Haşim Tekineş

Kerim Has

by Haşim Tekineş and Kerim Has, published on 25 June 2025

Bu hafta instituDE'nin konuğu Dr. Kerim Has, İran-İsrail krizinde Rusya'nın pozisyonunu analiz ediyor.

Trump ve İran-İsrail Gerilimi

June 19, 2025

Haşim Tekineş

by Haşim Tekineş, published on 19 June 2025

Trump İran ve İsrail arasındaki gerilime katılıp katılmama konusunda yol ayrımında.