Online Desk :  Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned Israel, accusing it of being the greatest threat to peace and stability in the region. It said Israel’s aggressive and expansionist policies not only fuel conflict but also serve as the foundation of its foreign strategy, reads a Daily Sabah post. The ministry denounced recent provocative statements by Israeli ministers targeting Turkiye, calling their rhetoric a reflection of both their current state of mind and the extremist, racist nature of the Israeli government.

It also condemned Israel’s air and ground assaults on multiple locations in Syria on April 2, emphasizing that there had been no provocation or threat from Syrian territory. “Israel’s simultaneous air and ground attacks on several locations last night (April 2), despite the absence of any provocation or attack from Syrian territory, can only be explained by Israel’s foreign policy approach that thrives on conflict,” the ministry stated. Ankara questioned why recent developments in Syria and Lebanon—welcomed by the international community for offering hope of peace and stability—would be a cause for Israeli concern.

The ministry accused Israeli ministers of attempting to deflect attention from their country’s “genocide in Gaza, total war against the Palestinian people, settler terrorism, annexation plans for the West Bank, and expansionist ambitions behind attacks on Syria and Lebanon” by shifting focus onto Turkiye. “Israel has become the foremost threat to regional security through its attacks on the territorial integrity and national unity of neighboring countries. As a strategic destabilizer, Israel incites unrest and fuels terrorism,” the statement continued.

Calling for an end to Israel’s expansionist policies, the ministry urged Tel Aviv to withdraw from occupied territories and stop obstructing efforts to restore stability in Syria. It also called on the international community to take responsibility and curb Israel’s growing aggression. Israel has been conducting an extensive bombing campaign against Syrian military targets since an anti-regime alliance ousted longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in November. It has also launched ground incursions into southern Syria, aiming to keep the forces of the new government away from the border.

Authorities in Syria’s southern province of Daraa reported that Israeli shelling near the city of Nawa killed nine civilians and wounded several others. The attack coincided with Israel’s deepest ground incursion into southern Syria to date. Tensions between Turkiye and Israel have been escalating over Israel’s military actions in Syria. Ankara has repeatedly condemned these strikes, arguing that they undermine efforts to stabilize the war-torn country.