Türkiye has strongly criticised Israel over the targeting and killing of senior Iranian government officials and political figures, describing the actions as “assassinations.”
Speaking on Tuesday in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for an immediate halt to what he described as an unlawful military campaign.
“Israel’s political assassinations are actions that fall outside the normal laws of war and are truly illegal activities,” the official stated.
Fidan also condemned Israel’s operations in Lebanon, noting that the number of displaced people has surpassed 800,000 and is nearing one million.
He warned that if the conflict and occupation continue to expand, the crisis could evolve into a long-term refugee situation, forcing people to seek safety beyond their national borders.
On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the killing of Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, describing the organisation as a “group of gangsters that effectively runs Iran.”
He also announced the elimination of the Basij commander, Gholamreza Soleimani, a volunteer force leader under the IRGC who was appointed by the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in July 2019.
Netanyahu portrayed the Basij as “the gangsters’ assistants who are terrorizing the population” in Tehran and other Iranian cities, noting the group’s role in suppressing civilians during widespread protests.
The Israeli leader said the operations are weakening Iran’s leadership and creating an opportunity for citizens to remove it and determine their own future.
He pledged to continue both direct and indirect actions, promising “many more surprises,” and adding, “The most important thing for winning a war is determination. We are determined to win.”
Netanyahu maintained that Israel has recorded significant success in its operations, describing the country as “a formidable power, almost a global one, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with our friend, the global superpower.”
