Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, May 17, 2024. (Ayal Margolin/Flash90)
It’s unclear if the Turkish nationals were affiliated with Hezbollah or another terror group.
By World Israel News Staff
Three Turkish nationals attempting to illegally cross from southern Lebanon into Israel were killed by an Israeli Air Force airstrike, according to a media statement from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
“We wish Allah’s mercy upon our citizens and extend our condolences to their families,” the Ministry said, adding that Ankara is attempting to repatriate the bodies for burial in Turkey.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this unlawful attack that resulted in the death of our citizens,” the statement continued, without acknowledging the suspicious activity in which the slain men were engaged.
“As we have emphasized on every occasion, Israel must immediately end its aggressive policies that disregard human life and escalate tensions in our region,” the Ministry added.
While the Turkish Foreign Ministry did not state the location or date of the strike, it appears that Ankara is referring to an incident that took place on January 11.
On that day, the IDF released a statement acknowledging that it had killed three suspects who were trying to illegally infiltrate into Israeli territory from the Lebanese side of Mount Dov.
The IDF statement did not provide details regarding the identity of the men.
It’s unclear if the Turkish nationals were affiliated with Hezbollah or another terror group.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is openly hostile towards the Jewish state, having repeatedly expressed support for Hamas and hosting the terror group’s leadership.
In November 2024, Erdoğan praised the ICC warrants issued against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Erdoğan has previously referred to Netanyahu as “worse than Hitler” and a “vampire that feeds on blood.”
The Turkish leader has also claimed that Israel is a “terrorist state” engaged in a “genocide” against the Palestinian people.
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