Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party in parliament, Erdogan said Ankara’s security was directly linked to developments in neighboring Syria and Lebanon and accused Israel’s leadership of expanding its military actions in the region.

“The attacks by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his network of murder on Lebanon and Syria have brought the issue to a point where it also threatens Turkiye,” Erdogan said, adding that Turkiye would not remain unaffected by instability along its southern borders.

NATO member Turkiye has been among the most vocal critics of Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, and has repeatedly called for international legal action against Israel. Ankara has also suspended trade with Israel in response to the conflict and has urged coordinated international measures.

Erdogan said Israel’s actions were not limited to the Levant, accusing it of attempting to destabilize regions beyond the Middle East, including parts of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. He also referred to tensions involving Cyprus, warning against what he described as efforts to inflame divisions on the island.

“These small entities, whose ambitions far exceed their size, have boarded Israel’s boat of mischief,” Erdogan said, without providing further detail, adding that Turkiye would respond strongly to any perceived infringement of its rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Turkish president also urged global powers to take a firmer stance against Israel, arguing that it had been emboldened by what he called the “silence of the international community.”

“Pulling Israel back to within the bounds of the rule of law has become a shared duty not just for certain countries, but for all of humanity,” he said.

Turkiye shares borders with Syria and lies near Lebanon across the Eastern Mediterranean, placing it within the broader strategic arc affected by the ongoing regional conflict.

Appearing before a royal commission investigating Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in decades, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chief Mike Burgess said the agency had been “stretched” by competing security challenges, including religious extremism, politically motivated violence and the growing radicalization of young people online.

The inquiry is examining the circumstances surrounding the December attack at Bondi Beach, where authorities allege that Sajid Akram and his son Naveed opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration attended by Jewish families, killing 15 people and triggering a nationwide debate over security failures and rising antisemitism.

Questioned about Australia’s counterterrorism capabilities before the attack, Burgess acknowledged mounting operational demands on the intelligence service but rejected suggestions that resource constraints had prevented investigations into significant threats.

“We were not leaving serious matters untreated or uninvestigated,” Burgess told the commission, adding that intelligence agencies could not anticipate every potential threat despite extensive monitoring efforts.
He said that, even in hindsight, he believed the agency’s resources were sufficient to address the security challenges it faced at the time.

Burgess is expected to provide further evidence in a closed hearing focused on classified intelligence matters and operational arrangements that cannot be discussed publicly.

The attack has prompted intense scrutiny of Australia’s security framework and sparked broader concerns about the safety of Jewish communities. It also led to calls for stronger measures against violent extremism and hate-motivated attacks.

In response to the shooting, the Australian government announced a package of firearm reforms, including a proposed nationwide gun buyback program. However, implementation has slowed amid difficulties securing support from state and territorial governments, whose cooperation is required for nationwide enforcement.

The inquiry is being led by former High Court judge Virginia Bell and is expected to examine intelligence assessments, law enforcement responses and broader policy issues linked to the attack.

Authorities said alleged gunman Sajid Akram, 50, was killed by police during the assault. His son, Naveed Akram, 24, remains in custody and has been charged with terrorism offenses and 15 counts of murder.

Royal commissions are among Australia’s most powerful public inquiries and can run for months or years while examining evidence and making recommendations for legislative and institutional reform.

In a statement published on X, Aboul Gheit said continued escalation risked undermining ongoing mediation and diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving regional crises through political channels. He did not identify the parties responsible for the attacks.

The Arab League chief also expressed solidarity with Bahrain after Bahraini authorities announced the arrest of individuals allegedly linked to foreign entities accused of attempting to destabilize the kingdom’s security and internal stability.

The remarks come as regional tensions remain elevated amid the broader fallout from the conflict involving Iran and mounting security concerns among Gulf states over attacks on infrastructure, maritime routes and sovereign territory.

Aboul Gheit reiterated the Arab League’s support for measures adopted by Gulf governments to safeguard national sovereignty and maintain regional stability, according to the statement.

The comments were issued against the backdrop of intensified diplomatic activity across the Middle East, with regional and international actors seeking to contain the spillover risks of the Iran-related conflict and prevent further disruptions to Gulf security and shipping corridors.