Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed solidarity with Lebanon amidst heightened tensions with Israel, calling on other nations to join Türkiye in supporting Beirut.

Addressing AK Party lawmakers in parliament, Erdogan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of plotting to expand conflict beyond Gaza.

"It seems that Israel has now turned its eyes on Lebanon after destroying and burning Gaza. We see Western countries giving Israel support behind the scenes," Erdogan stated, criticizing international backing for Israel as "pitiful."

Erdogan emphasized Türkiye's support for Lebanon, stating: "Türkiye stands with the brotherly people and state of Lebanon. I call on other countries in the region to stand in solidarity with Lebanon."

The prospect of a potential third Israeli-Lebanese war, with the risk of spillover, has raised international concerns. Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has warned Cyprus against facilitating Israeli military activities, including the use of its airport and bases.

In a related development, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Cyprus of becoming an "operation center" for Israeli actions against Gaza. "We frequently see in intelligence reports that certain countries use the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus as a base, particularly for operations in Gaza," Fidan stated in an exclusive interview with Türkiye’s HaberTurk television.

Fidan cautioned Cyprus against involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, saying: "When you become a part of the ongoing wars in the Middle East, this fire will come and find you too... Our advice to them is to stay away from the conflict."

Türkiye has alleged that the Greek Cypriot administration allowed two British bases on the island to be used for US arms shipments to Israel during the Gaza conflict. However, both the Republic of Cyprus and the United Kingdom have stated that these bases are used solely for humanitarian purposes. (ILKHA)