Turkish officials have cautiously addressed Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, highlighting historical disagreements between Turkey and Hezbollah over Syria’s civil war. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, refraining from mentioning Nasrallah’s killing directly. Nasrallah was killed by Israel using BLU-109s bunker-buster bombs.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed condolences for Nasrallah’s death, acknowledging its impact on Iran’s “Axis of Resistance”. The silence around Nasrallah’s killing serves as a message to both Iran and Israel. Turkey’s nuanced approach towards the assassination reflects concerns about supporting Hezbollah and Iran, given their involvement in Syria. Ankara is reevaluating its Middle East policy to navigate complex relationships with Syria, Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.
Analysts suggest Turkey walks a fine line between opposing Israeli aggression and distancing itself from Iran and its proxies. Concerns over Israel’s escalating violence have pushed Ankara to explore diplomatic solutions while maintaining support for the Syrian opposition.