Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for stronger unity among Islamic nations in response to the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israeli airstrikes in Beirut on Saturday. Erdoğan condemned the killing as part of Israel’s wider campaign of what he called “state terrorism” in the region, which he said is destabilising Lebanon and the broader Middle East.
“No one with a conscience can accept this massacre,” Erdoğan said in his statement, referring to Israel’s military actions in Lebanon. He urged Muslim countries to show a more “decisive” stance in opposing Israel’s expanding influence and aggression.
Erdoğan also called on the United Nations and the international community to intervene, stressing that Israel’s policies of occupation and violence were spreading beyond Palestine, affecting Lebanon and other regional states. “The madness Israel has unleashed in Gaza and Ramallah is now being exported to Lebanon,” he stated, adding that Turkey would continue to stand by the Lebanese people during this difficult time.
The president’s comments come amid mounting tension across the region, as Israeli airstrikes intensify and civilian casualties rise in both Lebanon and Gaza. Erdoğan emphasised that military support from Israel’s allies was enabling Israel to act with impunity, violating international law and humanitarian values.
Erdoğan, who has been vocal about strengthening ties with Muslim-majority nations, reiterated his commitment to building stronger cooperation across the region. “As Muslim countries, we must unite against these acts of aggression and work towards lasting peace,” he said. In a recent statement, made before departing for the UN General Assembly, Erdoğan also called for renewed dialogue with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, framing cooperation between Muslim nations as key to stabilising the region and resolving conflicts.
Meanwhile, Russia too has condemned the assassination of Nasrallah, describing it as a “political assassination” that risks triggering further instability in Lebanon. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry called for an immediate halt to hostilities, holding Israel responsible for the consequences of its actions.
