The October 7 massacre by the terrorist organization Hamas has resulted in a prolonged war between Israel and Hamas, later joined by Hezbollah, the powerful Iranian-backed militia and political movement in Lebanon. Amidst this conflict, a viral social media post on X claims that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened Israel, stating that if Israel dares to enter Lebanon, Turkey will send its army to Lebanon.
Vivid wrote on X, ‘BREAKING: Turkish 🇹🇷 President Erdogan directly threatens Israel again: “We will send Turkish forces if Israel decides to invade Lebanon.” How is Turkey still in NATO?’
⚠️BREAKING: Turkish 🇹🇷 President Erdogan directly threatens Israel again:
— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) July 30, 2024
“We will send Turkish forces if Israel decides to invade Lebanon.”
How is Turkey still in NATO? pic.twitter.com/wRgrmkJvOe
Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis claimed, ‘Turkish President Erdogan: “Israel is not only a threat to Lebanon and Palestine, but to the entire world!” Erdogan says he’ll send Turkish forces if Israel enters Lebanon.’
🇹🇷Turkish President Erdogan:
— Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis (@DrLoupis) July 30, 2024
“Israel is not only a threat to Lebanon and Palestine, but to the entire world!”
Erdogan says he’ll send Turkish forces if Israel enters Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/J2Aof9e5Kw
Global Eyes News asserted while quoting Turkish President, ‘Erdogan will send Turkish forces if Israel enters Lebanon.’
BREAKING:
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) July 30, 2024
Erdogan will send Turkish forces if Israel enters Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/6VbZ1We5VT
Amanur Rahman tweeted, ‘Erdogan will send Turkish forces if Israel enters Lebanon. I hope this is not lip service.’
BREAKING:
— Amanur Rahman (@the_amanur) July 30, 2024
Erdogan will send Turkish forces if Israel enters Lebanon.
I hope this is not lip service. pic.twitter.com/9Py1WK8AQq
BRICS News wrote, ‘Turkey’s President Erdogan says he’ll send Turkish forces if Israel invades Lebanon.’
JUST IN: 🇹🇷 Turkey's President Erdogan says he'll send Turkish forces if Israel invades Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/bh3eKL6vBt
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) July 30, 2024
Simon Dixon asserted, ‘ Erdogan threatens to send Turkish forces if Israel enters Lebanon’
🇹🇷🇮🇱🇱🇧 Erdogan threatens to send #Turkish forces if #Israel enters #Lebanon https://t.co/Kwwc2lEJQF
— Simon Dixon (@SimonDixonTwitt) July 30, 2024
Fact Check
We began our fact-checking process by examining relevant media reports on this matter. We found a news report from The Jerusalem Post published on July 30, 2024. The report stated that according to Dr. Alon Liel, former Foreign Ministry director and former Israeli ambassador to Turkey, Erdogan will send Turkish forces if Israel enters Lebanon. Dr. Liel said, “If something significant happens in Lebanon, Erdogan sees any Israeli entry into Lebanon as a direct threat to him. He could send forces to Lebanon; he has done this in the past, including sending destroyers and combat ships to Lebanon’s territorial waters.”
The reports clearly indicate that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not explicitly state that Turkey would send its forces to Lebanon if the Israeli army entered Lebanon. This claim was actually an analysis by former Israeli envoy Dr. Alon Lei.
According to a Reuters report from July 27, 2024, President Erdogan expressed solidarity with Lebanon amidst escalating tensions with Israel, urging regional countries to support Beirut. He criticized Western countries for allegedly supporting Israel behind the scenes, stating, “It seems that Israel has now turned its eyes on Lebanon after destroying and burning Gaza.” He added, “Turkey stands with the brotherly people and state of Lebanon. I call on other countries in the region to stand in solidarity with Lebanon.” Erdogan also reiterated this message in a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, asserting Turkey’s support against Israel’s “aggressive policies.”
On July 30, 2024, TRT news reported that Erdogan, in a meeting with AK Party provincial heads in Ankara, described Israel as a “lawless state” posing a threat not only to Palestine and Lebanon but to humanity as a whole.
Erdogan:
— TRT World (@trtworld) July 30, 2024
– Lawless Israeli state is threat not only to Palestine & Lebanon but to humanity as whole, to entire world
– Only country in our region that seeks its security through aggression, massacre and land seizure is Israel, country that acts like terrorist organisation pic.twitter.com/bnYXObygPG
Furthermore, a Reuters report from July 29, 2024, quoted Erdogan suggesting the possibility of Turkish intervention in Israel, akin to past actions in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh. He stated, “We must be very strong so that Israel can’t do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them. There is no reason why we cannot do this … We must be strong so that we can take these steps.”
Additionally, on the evening of July 30, Israeli forces reportedly targeted Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander responsible for the missile weapons project in Beirut. Shukr’s whereabouts remain unclear.
In conclusion , the above report clearly shows that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan never stated that the Turkish army would send forces to Lebanon if the Israeli army entered Lebanon. This statement was actually an analysis by former Israeli envoy Dr. Alon Lei. However, Erdogan did make a veiled remark about potentially invading Israel.
