Türkiye has condemned Israel’s targeting and killing of senior Iranian state officials and political figures, describing the actions as “assassinations” and a violation of international norms.
Speaking on Tuesday in Ankara, the 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,” he said.
Fidan also criticised Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis. According to him, the number of displaced persons has exceeded 800,000 and is fast approaching one million. He cautioned that a continued expansion of the war and occupation could result in a prolonged refugee crisis, with affected populations forced to seek shelter beyond their national borders.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed on Tuesday the killing of Ali Larijani, identified as the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, which he described as “a group of gangsters that effectively runs Iran.”
Netanyahu also announced the killing of Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij, a volunteer force under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Soleimani was appointed in July 2019 by the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
The Israeli leader described the Basij as “the gangsters’ assistants who are terrorising the population” in Tehran and other cities, referencing the group’s role in suppressing civilian protests.
He maintained that Israel’s actions were weakening Iran’s leadership and creating an opportunity for citizens to challenge the regime. Netanyahu further pledged continued direct and indirect attacks, hinting at “many more surprises.”
“The most important thing for winning a war is determination. We are determined to win,” he said.
He added that Israel had already achieved significant success in its operations, describing the country as “a formidable power, almost a global one,” and noting that it was “fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with our friend, the global superpower.”
