Erdogan and Netanyahu trade accusations as Israel's strikes in Syria and Lebanon raise Turkish alarm

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish MPs that Israel’s military operations in Syria and Lebanon have escalated to a point where they now threaten Turkey’s security. He condemned what he called Israeli “aggression” and warned against attempts to destabilise the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, promising a strong response.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on X, calling Erdogan an “anti‑Semitic dictator” and accusing him of genocide against the Kurds, support for Hamas and repression of Turkish opposition. He argued that Erdogan has no moral standing to lecture Israel.

Turkey’s foreign ministry rejected Netanyahu’s remarks as baseless attempts to mislead the international community, stating that Israel must be held accountable before international courts for violations of international law. The exchange heightens diplomatic tension between the two countries amid the broader regional conflict.