Turkey in February 2026: the most important developments in security
In February 2026, Turkey's security news was dominated by the crash of a Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet shortly after takeoff on 25 February. Reports placed the crash near Balikesir and near the Bulgarian border. The pilot, Major Ibrahim Bolat, was killed, and an official investigation was launched. The incident was reported again the following day.
On security policy, Erdogan said Turkey neutralizes threats at their source beyond its borders, as the country committed troops to the international stabilization force for Gaza alongside several other states. Turkey announced a significant increase in military support for Somalia's counter-terrorism efforts, involving air and ground forces, and delivered advanced drones to Egypt for operations in Sudan. Reports also described Turkey as a hub for the indirect export of EU-made weapons to Russia, while Athens considered a clause to exclude Turkey from future arms deals. Turkey also issued a NOTAM challenging a planned Greek air force exercise near the island of Karpathos.
At home, Turkish police detained 96 suspects from the militant group MLKP, and Istanbul authorities closed 406 online gang accounts in an action against organized crime. Turkish authorities detained a DW correspondent and an Italian journalist in Istanbul, who were held at a deportation center. An Israeli woman was arrested in Turkey on suspicion of serving in the Israeli military and was later released after US intervention.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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