Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Israel’s policy in the Middle East has become a threat to Turkey’s national security.
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“With their attacks on Syria and Lebanon, Netanyahu and his criminal network have brought the situation to a point where it already poses a threat to Turkey. Syria and Lebanon are two independent States, but at the same time they are part of the geography of our love and brotherhood. Damascus and Beirut are two fraternal cities of Istanbul. Turkey’s security begins not only from Hatay, but also from Aleppo, Damascus and Beirut,” Erdogan said.
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The Turkish leader also accused Israel of continuing its military operation in Lebanon and refusing to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory. According to him, the actions of the Israeli side contribute to further destabilization of the region.
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Erdogan said that Israel is simultaneously taking steps aimed at increasing instability in the Eastern Mediterranean and a number of African states.
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According to Erdogan, the international community should monitor the situation in the Middle East more closely and prevent further escalation.
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Israel continues to launch attacks on Lebanese territory, despite the existing ceasefire agreements and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli negotiations. The Lebanese authorities regularly state that Israeli attacks violate the country’s sovereignty and hinder the stabilization of the situation in the south of the republic.
