'Erdogan Strong, My Good Friend': Trump When Asked About Turkish Threat To Israel

A fresh diplomatic confrontation has erupted between Turkey and Israel after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of pursuing policies that now threaten Turkey's national security. Addressing lawmakers from his ruling AK Party, Erdogan argued that Israeli military operations in Syria and Lebanon had expanded to a point where they pose a direct threat to Ankara. The remarks prompted an immediate response from Netanyahu, who rejected Erdogan's criticism and accused the Turkish leader of authoritarianism, antisemitism and maintaining ties with Hamas. The latest exchange underscores the dramatic deterioration in relations between two of Washington's key regional partners. Once characterized by close strategic cooperation, ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv have steadily worsened, particularly since the Gaza war, with both leaders increasingly engaging in direct public confrontations over regional security and the future of the Middle East.