Turkey has accused Israel of attempting to expand the conflict in Gaza to Lebanon, citing the 'alarming' wave of deadly explosions that have hit Hezbollah strongholds. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on state-run TRT television, 'The escalation in the region is alarming. We observe Israel gradually intensifying its attacks towards Lebanon.' According to Lebanese health ministry figures, the blasts have resulted in 32 deaths over two days, including two children, and have injured more than 3,000 others.
Israel has remained silent on the unprecedented operation, in which Hezbollah operatives' communication devices exploded in various public places. However, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hinted at a shift in focus northward, referring to Israel's border with Lebanon. Turkey has directly blamed Israel for the explosions, with Fidan asserting, 'We have reached a point where these operations by Israel are becoming increasingly provocative, and in response, Iran, Hezbollah, and their allies have no choice but to react.'
Hezbollah, an ally of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, has been engaged in a war with Israel since Hamas's October 7 attack. For nearly a year, Israel's military efforts have primarily targeted Gaza, ruled by Hamas, but its troops have also been involved in near-daily clashes with Hezbollah militants along the northern border, resulting in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon and dozens in Israel.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences to Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati over the recent deadly blasts. Fidan, a former head of Turkey's spy agency, commented on the method of mass explosions, stating, 'This is something that intelligence organizations use very often, but this instance was on a large scale.' He warned that Israel's campaign could extend beyond the region, potentially involving Jordan, Egypt, and the entire Middle East.
Fidan questioned Israel's intentions, asking, 'Does Israel want permanent peace or does it want to eliminate all perceived threats using traditional war methods?' He emphasized that the international community needs to intervene before it's too late, as 'this madness not only harms Palestinians but also jeopardizes Israelis' future.' Fidan, who has been actively pursuing diplomatic efforts to facilitate a ceasefire, participated in a meeting on the Gaza crisis in Jordan.
Regarding Turkey's military response, a defense ministry source confirmed that the armed forces rely on local and national communication systems and software. The source added that they continuously review and develop new measures based on lessons learned from ongoing operations and recent developments, including the war in Ukraine and the blasts in Lebanon.
