Israel’s strikes on Lebanon aim to expand conflict, says Turkish President

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued a stern warning that Israel’s recent attacks on Lebanon will escalate the conflict and spread war to the surrounding region.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Turkish-American National Steering Committee in New York, Erdogan stated, “The recent attacks against Lebanon and the recent statements made by Israel are a clear manifestation of the efforts to spread the war to the region.”

Erdogan, who arrived in the US to address the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, also condemned Israel’s actions in Palestinian territories, particularly the Gaza Strip, as genocide.

He criticized global institutions for failing to intervene effectively, saying, “Global institutions and organizations have taken no effective steps to end the oppression in Gaza or prevent Israel’s massacre.”

The Turkish president said the moral collapse of institutions responsible for maintaining peace and security, citing the ongoing Gaza massacre, which has persisted for 352 days. Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to stopping Israel’s policies of occupation, invasion, and massacre.

He also stressed the importance of protecting Al-Aqsa Mosque’s sanctity and historical status, declaring, “We have not remained silent and will not remain silent against any attack on the sanctity and historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque, our first qibla.”