Turkish FM criticizes Israel as main perpetrator for conflicts in Iran

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Turkish FM criticizes Israel as main perpetrator for conflicts in Iran

2026-03-20 11:35 Last Updated At：17:27

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday criticized Israel as the primary perpetrator of the current regional conflicts, saying it has undermined negotiations between the United States and Iran on the nuclear issue.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Al Thani in Doha, Fidan said Türkiye supports keeping dialogue channels open for a peaceful solution and urged the international community to continue paying attention to the crisis in Gaza.

He added that Türkiye is working with Qatar to coordinate actions and promote de-escalation.

Speaking alongside Fidan, Al Thani said the current round of regional conflict began with Israel. He added that Qatar had previously tried to prevent Israel and the United States from launching an attack on Iran.

He stressed that Qatar has always regarded diplomacy as the primary and ultimate means of resolving conflicts.

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon kill 20, bring total fatalities to 1,021

At least 20 people were killed and 57 others injured in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon over the past 24 hours, according to official figures released on Friday.

The latest casualties bring the cumulative death toll to 1,021, with a total of 2,641 people wounded since the escalation of hostilities on March 2.

Meanwhile, displacement continues to rise sharply as ongoing strikes force more residents to flee their homes. A total of 134,616 displaced people are currently sheltering in 644 centers across the country, the figures show.

Efforts to accommodate displaced populations remain under strain as the humanitarian situation deteriorates amid continued airstrikes.

Hezbollah entered the confrontation on March 2 by launching rockets from southern Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire on Nov. 27, 2024, prompting Israel to carry out an intensified military campaign targeting multiple areas across the country.