Report in Turkey: How Israel torpedoed the move for an F35 deal with Ankara

A report on the Turkish news site Haber 7 claims that Israel pressured the United Arab Emirates not to purchase S-400 systems from Turkey, thereby delaying a move that could have paved the way for Turkey's return to the F35 fighter jet program and the lifting of US sanctions. Ankara has formulated a new formula to overcome the obstacle.

A report on the Turkish news site Haber 7 claims that Israel acted vis-à-vis the United Arab Emirates to prevent it from purchasing the S-400 air defense systems held by Turkey. According to the report, the Israeli move was intended to prevent the lifting of US sanctions on Ankara and the opening of the way for its return to the F35 fighter jet program. Turkey and Russia had already reached understandings on the transfer of the systems, but the move vis-à-vis the UAE was not completed due to Israeli pressure. Ankara has formulated a new formula in an attempt to overcome the obstacle. US Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, said that talks on lifting sanctions and removing the systems from Turkey are still ongoing. US President Trump expressed support in July for lifting the sanctions. The report is based on a single Turkish source and does not include an official Israeli or American response.