Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on regional countries to support Lebanon amidst escalating tensions due to a potential conflict with Israel.
"Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's plans to spread war to our region, which are being encouraged by the West, will lead to a great catastrophe. The Islamic world and fraternal countries in the Middle East must proactively respond to these bloody plans ahead of the West. However, we sadly observe that the Islamic world is acting as if it is under a shroud of death. We must not allow this. Turkey supports the brotherly Lebanese people and government. I urge other countries in the region to show solidarity with Lebanon," Erdogan said during an address to the ruling party's faction in parliament.
The Turkish leader stated that "no one should expect Turkey to bow down to the Zionists." He added, "It appears that Israel, having destroyed the Gaza Strip, is now targeting Lebanon. We see that Western powers are supporting it in this. It is extremely difficult and sad to see that states speaking about freedom, human rights, and justice are enslaved to a mentally ill person like Netanyahu."
In mid-June, the Israeli army approved an operational plan for an offensive in Lebanon. Following its operation against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities are planning a simultaneous strike against the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah. Like Hamas, Hezbollah operates against Israel, periodically shelling the Israeli territory from the north.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS