Erdogan hints at military intervention against Israel amid tensions
Tensions are rising between Israel and Lebanon. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested that Ankara may consider using military force against Israel. He stated that Turkey does not rule out intervention "if necessary."
On Sunday, Erdogan spoke in Rize, his hometown. The Turkish leader assessed that his country should show strength in the face of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip.
"We must be very strong so that Israel can't do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them," he said.
"Who can guarantee that those who razed Gaza to ground today will not set their dirty eyes on Anatolia tomorrow?" asked the Turkish leader. Anatolia is a part of Turkey.
Erdogan threatens Israel
In the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, as Erdogan mentioned, Turkey played an important role. Ankara provided military drones to Azerbaijani forces fighting Armenia.
During the civil war in Libya in 2020, Turkey helped the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli repel an offensive by warlord Khalifa Haftar's forces, which were supported by Russian mercenaries.
Turkish-Israeli relations have deteriorated sharply following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in early October 2023. In response to accusations of war crimes by Israel, the Israeli Foreign Ministry recalled some of its diplomats from Ankara. Turkey called its ambassador in Tel Aviv back for consultations.
