Beyond the F-35: Turkey eyes sixth-generation fighter jets
World press on Israel: Concerns over potential F-35 sales to Turkey, Ankara's sixth-generation aircraft ambitions, internal opposition within the Khamenei family, and the deepening defense ties between Israel and the UAE.
World Press Headlines
Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving security landscape, the international media offers unique perspectives on events in Israel. We present a daily summary of reports from major global outlets to understand how the situation is perceived abroad.
The articles presented here are sourced from major international newspapers and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of Globes.
1. Security ties with the UAE extend far beyond Iron Dome
Israeli-Emirati security cooperation reached a milestone during Operation Lion's Roar, when Iron Dome batteries were deployed to the UAE to counter Iranian threats. However, an investigation by the Drop Site website reveals that the defense relationship between Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem is significantly deeper than just missile defense.
Leaked documents from a former senior Elbit official indicate that the Israeli defense company aggressively leveraged the Abraham Accords to market its technology. Between late 2021 and early 2023, Elbit proposed the sale of Hermes 900 drones and electronic warfare systems worth up to $225 million. The deal gained momentum following Houthi drone and missile attacks on Abu Dhabi in January 2022. In November 2025, Elbit announced a $2.3 billion contract with an anonymous client, later identified as the UAE.
2. Turkey aims for sixth-generation aircraft
Ankara is pursuing a two-pronged strategy to modernize its Air Force: lobbying the Trump administration for F-35s and developing its indigenous fifth-generation jet, the KAAN. According to the Türkiye newspaper, which is close to the Erdogan administration, Turkey is now evaluating its next steps regarding sixth-generation aircraft development.
Analyst Barin Kayaoğlu suggests that joining the GCAP consortium—a joint venture between the UK, Italy, and Japan—is a likely path forward. Turkey hopes to contribute its industrial expertise to the project, which recently saw Canada join as a partner. Existing ties between Italy's Leonardo and Turkey's Baykar in the drone sector could serve as a bridge for further cooperation.
3. Dissent from within the Khamenei family
While Operation Lion's Roar did not result in the immediate collapse of the Ayatollah regime, new challenges are emerging from within the inner circle. Mohammad Baqer Kharrazi, a relative by marriage to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, recently delivered a sermon outlining an organizational plan to replace the Islamic Republic with a new Islamic government.
Kharrazi, who leads the "Hezbollah of Iran" organization, claims to have established a "shadow government" and aims to recruit a network of 250,000 supporters. He asserts that his group has prepared 60 volumes of detailed plans for managing state institutions. Unlike sporadic protests, Kharrazi’s approach involves structured recruitment and specific operational goals, marking a notable development in the internal politics of the regime.
