In a sharp warning, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cautioned against the Israeli occupation of Syrian territory amidst ongoing aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, stating that “once Damascus is occupied, Israel will reach northern Syria.”
Speaking to journalists aboard his plane returning from a visit to Serbia on Saturday, Erdogan remarked, “Once Israel invades Damascus, they will expand to northern Syria. Israel might have certain plans in place.” This was according to a transcript of the interview published by Turkish news outlet TRT Haber.
When asked about Israel’s recent strike on Damascus, Erdogan emphasized that “Russia, Syria, and Iran must take more effective measures to safeguard Syria’s territorial integrity.”
During his discussion with representatives of Turkish media on the flight, the Turkish president reiterated that his country would “defend urgent and lasting peace in Syria (…) and stand firmly on the side of peace.” He pointed out that “Israel poses a tangible threat to both regional and global peace.”
Erdogan called for those entrusted with maintaining global peace to “eliminate this threat and safeguard peace.”
Syrian territories, including the capital Damascus, have witnessed an unprecedented escalation in Israeli airstrikes since Israel launched its wide-scale offensive against Lebanon late last month. This surge in attacks coincides with Israeli calls to occupy the Syrian portion of Mount Hermon, located near the occupied Golan Heights.
In this context, President Erdogan expressed his belief that the dreams of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his “gang” would turn into a nightmare, emphasizing that “Palestine will be free, and Lebanon will remain free.”
He further explained, “Israel is not only targeting stability in Palestine and Lebanon but aims to ignite a fire that will spread across the region.” Erdogan underscored the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which “is unfolding before the eyes of the world and has become a stain of shame on the pages of human history.”
He added, “This shame stains the foreheads of the supporters of the Zionist terrorist organization, known today as Israel, and will haunt them for generations to come.”
Since September 23rd, Israel has been launching intense and unprecedented airstrikes on various locations in Lebanon, resulting in thousands of martyrs and injuries, with over 1.2 million displaced, according to official figures.
In response, Hezbollah has been escalating its operations against Israeli forces, broadening its targets in retaliation for the ongoing Israeli crimes in Lebanon, which began with the large-scale Israeli escalation late last month.
Meanwhile, Israel continues its genocidal campaign against the people of Gaza for the 372nd consecutive day, targeting civilian homes, medical teams, and journalists.
The death toll from the ongoing aggression in Gaza has risen to over 42,000 martyrs, with more than 96,000 people injured, and thousands still missing under the rubble, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
