Turkey offers to act as mediator between US, Lebanon and Hezbollah – report

Turkey has reached out to the United States and Lebanon, offering to help broker an arrangement with Hezbollah, according to a report in The Jerusalem Post.

The report, based on sources familiar with the matter, states that Turkey has offered to act as a mediator with the Shi’a Muslim terror group in Lebanon. The sources indicated that the U.S. has not yet responded to the offer. 

In recent years, Turkey has sought to expand its diplomatic role in the Middle East as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s efforts to position the country as a major regional power broker.

Israeli officials are reportedly not receptive to the idea, viewing Turkey’s recent expansion into Syria and its attempts to be a critical actor in the Gaza Strip with suspicion, given the administration’s frequent anti-Israel statements. 

When Turkey attempted to send troops to be a part of the Gaza International Stabilization Force, Israel vetoed the country’s involvement. At the same time, Turkey has been steadily building a coalition of its own forces, Turkish-funded militias, and ideologically aligned groups in northern Syria, alongside its open partnership and cooperation with the regime of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. 

Israel has acted on several occasions to prevent the establishment of Turkish bases in Syria, citing concerns they could be used against it in the future.

According to the report in the JPost, the Lebanese government is “not very enthusiastic,” expressing concern about expanding Turkish influence in Lebanon, as well as the region. 

While Turkey and Hezbollah have occasionally clashed over their opposing interests in Syria, the Turkish government has aligned more closely with Iranian and Hezbollah interests since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, a significant ally of the Shi’a terror group. 

Turkey supported Iran in its demand that any ceasefire with the United States and Israel must also include a halt to Israeli operations against Hezbollah.

After Israeli operations decimated Hezbollah in 2024, Israel accused Turkey of facilitating financial transfers from Iran to Hezbollah. According to Israeli intelligence, funds for Hezbollah were funneled through commercial channels, often involving Turkish entities serving as facilitators. 

The IDF later eliminated one of the key figures involved in the currency exchanges used to funnel the funds.

Despite the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon by the U.S., Hezbollah and Israel have continued to trade blows in southern Lebanon in recent days, with Hezbollah carrying out several drone attacks against IDF troops, killing and injuring several soldiers. 

Israel recently notified the United States that it will escalate strikes against Hezbollah if the attacks continue.