Turkish FM Fidan reveals meeting with late Hezbollah chief Nasrallah

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was a significant figure in the region whose position will be difficult to replace.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Türkiye’s public broadcaster TRT in New York, Fidan revealed he had met with Nasrallah in Lebanon under challenging circumstances, just 10 days after the war began.

“Meeting him wasn’t easy,” Fidan stated, emphasizing Nasrallah’s importance for both Hezbollah and Iran.

Fidan reflected on the potential impact of Nasrallah’s assassination, stressing that “the void left by his absence will be difficult to fill.”

He also suggested that Hezbollah might refrain from fully entering the conflict based on his discussions with Nasrallah.

However, Fidan expressed concern that Israel’s ambitions extend beyond Gaza. “There is a desire within Israel, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, for the war to spread to the region,” he warned, pointing to the potential destabilization of Lebanon.

Earlier this week, Israeli forces launched large-scale airstrikes in Lebanon, killing hundreds and displacing thousands. Tensions escalated further after the assassination of Nasrallah and other commanders in Beirut on Friday.