The long-standing goal of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to establish his country as the leading Islamist political, cultural and military power in the Middle East as a stepping stone toward resurrecting the Ottoman Empire has been well documented.

This week, some progress appeared to be made toward that goal when the EFES-2026 Combined Joint Live-Fire Field Exercise took place along the Aegean coast near İzmir, involving large land, naval and air forces from the Turkish military alongside contingents from 50 other countries, including Syria and Libya.

The live-fire component of the drills took place in the İzmir Gulf and Doğanbey training ranges, with dozens of ships, tanks, infantry battalions and aircraft maneuvering, firing and communicating in close proximity.

The Libyan contingent included 331 fighters from the country’s eastern forces and 171 fighters from the western region, marching together under a single Libyan flag despite their lingering rivalry after years of civil war.

Turkey has spent several years attempting to form a joint force from units on both sides while providing training and logistical support.

For Israeli analysts, however, the Syrian participation may have been the most significant development.

Forces from the Al-Jolani (Al-Sharaa) regime in Syria were among the smallest delegations, with only 50 soldiers. But the contingent carries political and diplomatic weight far beyond its modest size, marking the first time forces from the newly formed “Syrian National Army” have operated outside Syrian territory. The fact that they are doing so under Turkish auspices rather than American leadership is being viewed as a signal about both the intentions and capabilities of the al-Jolani regime.

Israel is watching these developments closely. Al-Jolani’s regime is viewed in Jerusalem as a “not unfriendly” regional power and a potential ally against Hezbollah and the Iranian regime, while Turkey under Erdoğan is increasingly seen as a deeply hostile opponent of Israel with openly stated ambitions of “liberating Jerusalem.”

Ankara’s growing influence, not only in the Middle East but also in Europe and Africa, is viewed in Israel as an increasingly worrying development.

I am confident that students of Biblical prophecy have noted the prominent mention of ancient regions corresponding to modern-day Turkey, Persia (modern-day Iran) and Libya in the coalition of nations that come against Israel, described in the prophecies of Ezekiel chapters 38-39.

I believe this will be the next major Biblical prophesied end-times event. So watch for it, and use it in your evangelism of family, friends and workmates.