Israel attacks in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran are not just about security, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, warning that the country’s military operations in the Middle East are driven by broader ideological objectives. Speaking on Tuesday, Erdogan argued that the campaigns targeting Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, and most recently Iran extend beyond national defense. “We all know that the purpose of the attacks is not only about security,” he said, pointing to narratives such as “promised lands” and apocalyptic ideas being used to justify military actions.
Erdogan also criticized the prolonged closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which has been shuttered for more than two weeks, calling the decision unjustified. His remarks come as regional tensions rise, with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accusing Israel of carrying out “political assassinations” in Iran and aggravating the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the conflict has already caused extensive casualties and displacement. In Lebanon, more than 886 people have died and 2,105 injured, while over 945,000 have been displaced. Among them, 132,100 people are living in over 600 overcrowded shelters, and more than 120,000 have fled into neighboring Syria. Iran is also facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with more than 1,440 deaths and 18,700 injuries reported. Approximately 100,000 people have fled Tehran, while an estimated 3.2 million people, or 600,000 to one million households, have been displaced across the country. The WHO warned that access to healthcare is rapidly deteriorating, with insecurity forcing closures of medical facilities and delaying emergency responses.
Health workers have not been spared from the violence. Multiple attacks on healthcare facilities in Lebanon, Iran, Sudan, and the occupied Palestinian territory have resulted in deaths and injuries among medical personnel, further straining already fragile systems.
The WHO highlighted that the scale of humanitarian needs now exceeds available resources. The agency called for urgent funding and an immediate de-escalation of hostilities to prevent further civilian suffering and allow essential aid to reach the most vulnerable populations.
