Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Israel was using security as a pretext to occupy more land. Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, he said Israel’s actions reflected ongoing occupation and expansionism in the region.

Attacks intensified Friday between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah ahead of direct talks between the Lebanese government and Israel set to begin next week. At least 13 members of Lebanon’s State Security forces were killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon Friday,

Israel said it killed Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and Basij paramilitary force commander Gholamreza Soleimani in airstrikes overnight.

Ali Larijani, Iran’s lead security official, and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani were “eliminated,” Israel said. Iran has not commented on the strikes.

Turkiye’s FM Hakan Fidan accused Israel of using security as an excuse to occupy more land, saying the Netanyahu government seeks expansion beyond its own defense. He urged an end to the onward occupation.

Israel is pursuing “onward occupation” from Palestinian territories towards Lebanon and Syria, says Türkiye's top diplomat.

Turkey’s top diplomat on Saturday accused Israel of creating an international “illusion” and using security concerns as a pretext to seize “more land,” in the latest flare‑up in escalating tensions between the two regional powers.

According to Abu Fakhr, these were the preliminary steps that did not receive the desired response from the people of southern Lebanon. Israel therefore later resorted to adopting the “security belt” doctrine, which was not originally part of the Israeli security vocabulary.