(MENAFN) Türkiye strongly condemned Israel’s overnight airstrikes in southern Lebanon, calling the attacks “absolutely unacceptable,” and reaffirmed its support for the Lebanese people amid rising regional tensions.

“Israel’s aggression last night is absolutely unacceptable and cannot be approved. Once again, we condemn Israel in the strongest terms,” said Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus during the Dicle University 2025-2026 Academic Year Opening Ceremony.

He emphasized that the strikes mirrored previous attacks on Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Tunisia, and Qatar. “They see all the peoples of the Middle East as slaves, as non-human beings. The visible face of today’s imperialism is Zionism. For more than a century, they have brought the Middle East to this point with the first Sykes-Picot 'divide and rule' strategies,” he added.

Kurtulmus highlighted that while foreign powers aim to divide and fragment the region, Türkiye seeks unity and growth: “Although they drew borders in the first Sykes-Picot to divide the people of the region, they could not divide their hearts.”

The parliament speaker warned that the Middle East remains trapped in cycles of power struggles, with some actors showing no interest in peace. “As Türkiye, we must pull ourselves together, make the best sense of the period ahead of us, and continue on our way,” he said.

Turning to domestic priorities, Kurtulmus outlined Türkiye’s vision for what he called “Türkiye’s Century”, calling for a strong, influential nation: “We are obliged to make Türkiye—a Türkiye whose word is strong and whose power is effective.” He urged political actors and society to focus on building a just, peaceful, and united society and preparing proposals for a new, fair global order.

“This time we will succeed, this time peace will prevail, this time welfare will prevail, this time brotherhood will prevail,” Kurtulmus declared, underlining the government’s commitment to a future free of terrorism and social unrest.

Kurtulmus highlighted Türkiye’s financial and political burdens, noting that the country has spent at least $2 trillion on its struggle and alternative costs over recent years. He stressed the need to move past these challenges as Türkiye presses forward toward peace and stability.

He described Türkiye’s approach as a potential global model: “When Türkiye’s experience in this matter is successfully completed, it will become a model taught in universities worldwide, in faculties of political science, sociology departments, and research centers as 'Türkiye’s peace experience.'”

Kurtulmus criticized the current international system’s inability to secure peace, citing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. “There is no global system capable of securing peace. The imbalance of power, in which the strong dominate and the weak suffer, must be challenged by Turkish initiative across domestic and international fronts,” he said.

He concluded that promoting peace and justice is a shared responsibility for universities, politicians, and civil society in Türkiye.

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