Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that his country could enter Israel, as it has done in the past in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh. But he did not elaborate on what kind of intervention he was suggesting in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Erdogan, who has been a vocal critic of Israel's offensive in Gaza, began discussing the war in a speech praising his country's defense industry.
“What are our imports and exports in the defense industry and where do they come from? But, my dear brother, let's not let all this fool us. We must be very strong so that Israel cannot do these ridiculous things to Palestine,” Erdogan said.
“As we entered Karabakh, as we entered Libya, we can do the same to them. There is no reason for us not to do that. We just have to be so strong that we can take those steps,” Erdogan said.
President Erdogan appeared to be referring to Turkey's past actions. In 2020, Turkey sent military personnel to Libya to support Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord.
Turkey denies having any direct role in Azerbaijan's military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, but last year said it was using “all means,” including military training and modernization, to support its close ally. (ns/time)
