ISTANBUL

Israel's escalating rhetoric and attacks on Lebanon seriously concern Türkiye about the future of the region, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"No state in our region, including Türkiye, can feel safe as long as Israeli aggression under [Israel's Prime Minister] Netanyahu's administration is not stopped," Erdogan said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging border fire since the eruption of the Gaza war in October, but recent escalation has fueled concern of a bigger confrontation.

The Lebanese group has linked the cessation of its attacks on Israel to the end of Tel Aviv’s onslaught on Gaza, which has killed nearly 38,000 Palestinians and created a humanitarian catastrophe.

On Türkiye's foreign policy, Erdogan said: "We believe it is beneficial to open clenched fists in foreign policy. We will not hesitate to meet with whoever is necessary for this purpose."

"Of course, while doing so, we will first and foremost take Türkiye's interests as a reference, but we will not allow anyone who trusts us, takes refuge with us, and acts in partnership with us to be victimized in this process. "

"Türkiye is not and will not be a state that abandons its friends," Erdogan said.

He said Türkiye will continue to ensure the security of "our country and our people" as long as there are "bloodthirsty groups" in Syria with their guns pointed towards it.

Erdogan emphasized Türkiye's extensive efforts over the past 13 years to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria, which has claimed the lives of over 1 million people.

Through the Astana process, he reminded that they facilitated Bashar al-Assad regime and the opposition on common ground.

Erdogan also expressed the country’s efforts to prevent further bloodshed and conflicts through various channels, achieving "positive outcomes" in some areas on the ground.

"It is possible to take additional steps that will serve peace and tranquility. Preserving Syria's territorial integrity and national unity is also a priority for Türkiye," he added.

Erdogan highlighted that Türkiye dealt the heaviest blow to the terrorist state intended to be established along its southern borders with the terror groups PKK, alongside Daesh.

He emphasized their desire to see Syria as democratic, prosperous, and strong, rather than one plagued by instability and dominated by terrorist organizations.

"More than anyone else, we desire for Syria to become a safe and secure place for the millions forced to leave their homes," the Turkish president said.

He stressed that the sooner such an environment is created, the better it will be for everyone, particularly the Syrian people.

"We have no eye on anyone's land, nor do we have any eye on anyone's sovereignty," he said, adding that Türkiye is solely defending and will continue to defend its homeland against separatist intentions.

"We know well who wrote the game crafted with the remnants of the separatist terrorist organization. Neither we, nor our nation, nor our Syrian brothers will fall into this insidious trap."

Erdogan stressed that 670,000 people have returned to settlements in northern Syria that were cleared of terrorism by Türkiye, and another 1 million people are expected to return when projects are completed.

Commenting on violence and negative social media trends after a crime by a Syrian national in the city of Kayseri on Sunday, Erdogan said Türkiye "will resolve the issue of refugees not based on prejudices or fears, but with rational, conscientious framework based on realities of the country and economy."

"Public order is a red line for our state. Regardless of the excuse, we will not tolerate this line being crossed or violated," he said.

"Just as we know how to break the dirty hands reaching for our flag, we also know how to break the hands reaching out to the innocent people who have taken refuge in our country," the Turkish president said.