Addressing lawmakers from his ruling AKP party, Erdogan stated, “Israel is now setting its sights on Lebanon, and we observe that Western powers behind the scenes are encouraging and even supporting Israel”,
Erdogan strongly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that “Netanyahu’s plans to expand the war across the region will lead to a great disaster.”
He went further to lambaste Western countries, remarking, “It is pathetic that states that advocate for freedom, human rights, and justice are captives of a mentally ill person like Netanyahu.”
These comments come amid rising tensions and ongoing cross-border exchanges between Israeli forces and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah, stoking fears of a potential full-scale war. The violence along the Lebanon border escalated after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, which prompted a massive Israeli retaliation that is still underway.
Netanyahu has indicated that Israeli forces are concluding the most intense phase of the Gaza conflict and will redeploy to the northern border, describing the move as defensive. Last week, Israel announced that its plans for an offensive in Lebanon were “approved and validated.”
Erdogan’s remarks also follow a warning from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Greece and Cyprus about becoming involved in the Middle East conflict. In an interview with Haberturk TV, Fidan alleged significant militarization in southern Cyprus, used as a base for intelligence and military flights toward Gaza, based on intelligence reports. He cautioned, “When you get involved in the ongoing wars in the Middle East, when you take sides, this fire will come and find you too.”
Last week, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Cyprus against allowing its airports and bases to be used by Israel to target Lebanon, threatening retaliation. However, the Cypriot government in Nicosia swiftly denied any involvement in Israel’s Gaza operations and affirmed that it would not “become involved in any military conflicts…..Discover More
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