Turkish involvement in Syria near the Israeli border: The Turkish IHH organization, which was outlawed in Israel (2010), Germany (2010), and the Netherlands (2011), after being involved in supporting jihadist terror organizations around the world, is currently operating in Syria. Most notably in southern Syria near the border with Israel. IHH is a tool of Turkey to strengthen its regional influence. Since Ahmed al-Shara came to power in December 2024, IHH has been operating in Syria in coordination with regime officials. The organization was documented distributing humanitarian aid to the families of “martyrs” in the Quneitra (April 2025) and Daraa (May 2025) districts, near the border with Israel. It should be noted that the organization also operates a branch in the Gaza Strip that supports Hamas-affiliated “social” organizations. IHH leaders and the organization’s president, Bülent Yildirim, who are linked to President Erdogan and have received immunity from him over the years, have repeatedly spoken out against Israel and the West. Yildirim has also maintained personal ties with the Hamas leadership, including past meetings with Khaled Mashaal and Ismail Haniyeh. It was Yildirim who led and carried out the May 2010 flotilla to Gaza, which deliberately caused a violent confrontation with IDF forces after his remarks (of a clear jihadist nature) effectively incited the flotilla participants to violence. In addition, a few days after the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, Yildirim threatened to establish a military force of volunteers to operate against Israel and send another flotilla to Gaza.
