West Accusations Of Supporting Israel To Widen Conflict In The Middle East, President Erdogan: Turkey Stands With Lebanon

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/The Russian Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Western support for Israel's desire to widen the conflict in the Middle East, as tensions with Hezbollah on its northern border escalate, ensuring Turkey supports Lebanon.

"Israel is now pointing its sights at Lebanon and we are seeing Western powers behind the scenes patting Israel's back and even supporting them," President Erdoyan said at a parliamentary meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to spread the war into the region would lead to major disasters, he said.

"It's terrible and sad that countries talk about freedom, human rights, and justice, perpetrated by crazy people like Netanyahu," added President Erdogan.

Ensuring Turkey's support for Lebanon, President Erdogan also called on regional actors to take the same steps.

"Turkey stands with the people and the Lebanese nation who are brothers. I call on other countries in the region to stand in solidarity with Lebanon," he said.

The cross-border tension between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah has escalated in recent weeks, sparking fears of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah. Attacking each other on Israel's northern border has led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from areas on both sides of the border.

Israel's main ally, the United States, has warned Israel of the risk of a major conflict against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon following rising cross-border attacks.

"Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with dire consequences for the Middle East," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant.

Israeli top officials including PM Netanyahu have stated they are open to a diplomatic settlement of border tensions, although Defense Minister Gallant said Israel should be prepared for "any possible scenario."