Viral Turkish Defense Video Opens With Gaza Footage, Features "Last Army of Islam" Message
Turkish state-linked Roketsan releases promotional video combining religious nationalist messaging with footage of Israeli military operations in Gaza at Erdogan-attended ceremony
As reported by Nordic Monitor, a promotional video released by Turkey’s state-linked defense contractor Roketsan has sparked widespread attention for opening with footage of Israeli military operations in Gaza before featuring President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reciting nationalist poetry describing Turkey’s army as “the last army of Islam.”
The video, unveiled at a defense industry ceremony attended by Erdogan on April 7, combines conflict imagery from multiple regions with religious-political messaging, which some observers have compared to campaign-style messaging. The Turkish Armed Forces Foundation controls a 55.34 percent stake in Roketsan, with other state entities comprising the remainder of ownership, raising concerns about how Turkey’s government is positioning its defense exports to a global market that includes approximately 50 countries.
Gaza Footage Leads Promotional Content
The Roketsan video opens with scenes from Israeli military operations in Gaza before transitioning to footage from conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, and Azerbaijan. The company shared the video across its official social media channels following the April 7 ceremony in Ankara’s Lalahan district, where it quickly generated significant engagement. Nordic Monitor argued that the sequencing appeared intentional, using later conflict footage to broaden the frame while keeping Israel as the primary focus.
The video intersperses scenes of civilian suffering and military operations with excerpts from Erdogan’s speeches, including religiously influenced statements such as “Do not fear, do not retreat, do not despair. Allah is with us.”
“Last Army of Islam” Messaging
A central element of the video features Erdogan reciting a nationalist poem commonly associated with the Turkish military. The poem describes Turkey’s army as “a storm rising in Allah’s name” and characterizes it as “the final army of Islam tasked with ensuring the call to prayer endures.” The inclusion of this explicitly religious-nationalist rhetoric in a defense industry promotional video has prompted observers to characterize the material as containing political campaign elements rather than standard corporate or military communications.
Additional remarks attributed to Erdogan reference “rebuilding strength despite global opposition” and assert that “Turkey has not yet spoken its final word on the world stage.” The combination of religious language, nationalist poetry, and presidential imagery at a weapons manufacturer’s event represents a pattern of messaging that extends beyond traditional defense industry marketing.
State-Dominated Ownership Structure
Roketsan’s ownership is dominated by defense-linked and state-affiliated institutions. According to corporate-governance disclosures cited by Nordic Monitor, the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation holds 55.34%, followed by MKE, ASELSAN, Vakıflar Bankası, and HAVELSAN
Despite this state-dominated structure, Roketsan currently exports to approximately 50 countries, with international sales accounting for more than 38 percent of total revenue. The company reports that 90 percent of materials used in production are domestically sourced, supported by a supply chain of more than 2,300 companies.
Pattern of Geopolitically-Charged Marketing
This is not Roketsan’s first promotional video to attract attention for perceived political targeting. In 2022, the company released a simulation video for its CAKIR cruise missile that contained references interpreted as directed at Greece. Military experts noted that while defense contractors worldwide use promotional simulations for international marketing, Turkish companies have increasingly produced content perceived as targeting Greece and neighboring states.
A 2024 curriculum reform introduced by Turkey’s Ministry of Education under the ‘Century of Türkiye Education Model’ added material on domestic defense initiatives and the ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine, with the ministry framing parts of the model in terms of national values and consciousness.”
Defense Capabilities Gap Beneath Messaging
Turkey’s emphasis on defense industry messaging comes amid ongoing capability gaps in critical areas. Turkey’s October 2025 agreement with the United Kingdom for 20 new Eurofighter Typhoons marked a major procurement step, but Reuters reported the first aircraft from that British-built batch are expected in 2030.
During the recent regional escalation, NATO air-defense systems intercepted four ballistic missiles that Turkey said were launched from Iran toward Turkish airspace. The episode underscored Ankara’s continued reliance on allied missile-defense infrastructure, including additional U.S. Patriot deployments, even as Turkey expands its domestic defense industry.
Broader Implications
The Roketsan video represents the convergence of Turkey’s defense industry expansion with explicitly religious-nationalist political messaging. As a state-linked entity exporting to 50 countries, the company’s choice to lead promotional material with Gaza footage and “last army of Islam” rhetoric raises questions about how Turkey positions itself in global defense markets and whether such messaging influences purchasing decisions among potential clients.
The video’s rapid viral spread—with Roketsan pinning it to official accounts—suggests the messaging was intentional rather than incidental. The promotional material offers a window into how Turkey’s leadership publicly frames the relationship between military capability, religious identity, and geopolitical positioning.