Erdogan Warns Israel: If It Violates Our Rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, We Will Respond Strongly

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today, Wednesday, that “the attacks by Netanyahu and his crime network” against Syria and Lebanon have reached a point where they also threaten Turkey. “Turkey’s security begins in Beirut and Damascus,” he said. The president stressed that “we will not tolerate any attempt to impose a reality on the ground in these countries, and we will not turn a blind eye to aggression against them.”

According to Erdogan, since its establishment, Israel has undermined peace and stability in the region. He added that Israel’s aggression is a threat to the entire world: “It must be stopped.” The president threatened, saying, “If Israel violates our rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, we will respond strongly.” He said this after referring to “cunning initiatives” that Israel is promoting in the Mediterranean region: “No one should be chasing adventures there.” “We are well aware of the ultimate goal of the ‘Greater Israel’ illusion. With God’s help, we will not allow that to happen,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Erdogan’s remarks, saying that the Turkish president is a tyrant who “is committing genocide against the Kurds” and supports Hamas, and that, in addition to oppressing his own people, he is the last person who can lecture the State of Israel. “The State of Israel and the IDF, the most moral army in the world, will continue to act forcefully against Iran and its proxies that threaten the Middle East and the entire world,” the prime minister said.

The statements come against the backdrop of repeated Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, which are in response to Hezbollah attacks. Last night, the IDF struck several times in the city of Tyre. Civil defense in southern Lebanon reported eight casualties as a result of the strikes on the residential area in the city. In another incident, a Syrian civilian was killed in a strike on a motorcycle on the Al-Masilah road in southern Lebanon, according to a report on the Saudi channel Al-Hadath.

As a reminder, on Sunday the IDF struck Hezbollah headquarters and infrastructure in Beirut’s Dahieh district. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike was carried out in response to Hezbollah fire at Israeli territory earlier that day. The IDF later announced that it was preparing for fire toward Israeli territory in the evening.