Erdoğan threatens Israel with invasion, Tel Aviv compares him to Hussein
President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (photo: Getty Images)
President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has threatened to invade Israel to support the Palestinians. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has compared him to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, according to Katz's social media post on platform X and The Times of Israel.
"Erdoğan is going down the path of Saddam Hussein and threatens to attack Israel. He should just remember what happened there and how that ended," the head of the Israeli Foreign Ministry wrote.
ארדואן הולך בדרכו של סדאם חוסיין ומאיים לתקוף את ישראל. רק שיזכור מה קרה שם ואיך זה הסתיים.@RTErdogan pic.twitter.com/6GykLtLoh4
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) July 28, 2024
Earlier on Sunday, Erdoğan had threatened to deploy troops to Israel in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza conflict.
"Just as we entered [Nagorno-]Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we might do the same to them. There is nothing we can’t do. We must only be strong," the Turkish leader said.
War in Iraq
The Iraq War lasted from 2003 to 2011. It began on March 20, 2003, with an invasion by a multinational coalition led by the US and British armed forces aimed at overthrowing Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
On December 15, 2011, the US concluded its military campaign in Iraq, transferring security responsibilities to local forces.
Execution of Saddam Hussein
On June 30, 2004, Saddam Hussein and 11 other members of the Ba'athist regime, including former Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and Defense Minister Sultan Hashimi, were handed over to Iraqi authorities.
The trial took place in Baghdad on the premises of the US military base Camp Victory within the secure zone of the international airport.
On November 5, 2006, the Iraqi High Criminal Court sentenced Hussein to death by hanging for the execution of 148 Shi'ites in Dujail in 1982. The sentence was carried out on December 30 of the same year.
Criticism of Erdoğan
Following the Hamas attack in October of last year and the commencement of Operation Protective Edge by the IDF in the Gaza Strip, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan labeled Israel a war criminal and occupier. In response, Tel Aviv recalled its diplomats from Türkiye.
Erdoğan holds Israel responsible for the escalation of tension in the Middle East.
He also stated that Türkiye does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
