Israel security official warns of new Sunni ring of fire led by Turkey

Retired Brigadier General Erez Wiener, president of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), has warned of a shifting security landscape in the Middle East. Speaking at a Jerusalem Post diplomatic conference, Wiener suggested that Israel is transitioning from a ‘Shiite ring of fire’—established by Iran through proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis—to a potential ‘Sunni ring of fire’ led by Turkey.

To counter these emerging regional threats, Wiener emphasized the necessity for Israel to achieve full self-sufficiency in ammunition production to avoid dependence on external actors during prolonged conflicts.

On the domestic front, Wiener raised alarms regarding internal security, estimating that up to one million illegal weapons are circulating within Israel, a figure he claims exceeds the reserves of the Israeli armed forces. He also noted that the number of armed Palestinian Authority police officers has reached approximately 70,000, which he stated significantly exceeds the projections of the Oslo Accords.

Additionally, Wiener introduced the ‘Home Shield’ initiative, a program designed to train and equip local communities to respond to attacks within the first critical minutes. Following lessons learned from the October 7, 2023, attacks, the program is currently being piloted in northern Israel with plans for national implementation.