"The minister will make a 24-hour visit to Turkey focusing on the reinforcement of cooperation in the defence sector and various other questions of mutual interest," a spokesman told AFP without giving any other details.

Turkey, a secular Muslim state, has been Israel's main ally in the region since 1996, when they signed a military cooperation accord that caused widespread anger in the Arab world and Iran.

The two have since regularly conducted joint military manoeuvres and strengthened economic ties.

WAR.WIRE