
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Israel's ongoing military operations in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon may soon target Turkey.
"While Israel is carrying out terrorist attacks in Lebanon, it is trying every kind of provocation to draw the countries of the region into its fire."
During his speech at the reopening of parliament after a two-month recess, Erdogan said Israel's actions could extend further, targeting Turkey as well.
"After Lebanon, Israel will set its eyes, I tell you clearly, it will be our homeland... Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dreams include Anatolia. Whatever the cost, Turkey will continue to stand against Israel and invite the world to this honorable stand. Turkey will do its best to create a human front".
Erdogan also criticized those calling for Turkey to remain neutral in the rising tensions.
"We are facing an invading network that aims to set the whole region on fire. No one with an iota of conscience can remain silent in the face of such massacres. Just as Hitler was stopped when he saw himself in a magnifying glass, Netanyahu will be stopped in the same way.”
Saying that the ground operation in southern Lebanon "will not be like previous operations", the President said:
"All organizations must stop Israel without wasting any more time. As a Turkish nation, we will not leave our Lebanese brothers alone in these difficult days, we will support them."