Turkey has offered to help mediate an arrangement involving the United States, Lebanon and Hezbollah, but Beirut is hesitant because of concerns about Ankara’s expanding influence, The Jerusalem Post news website reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
The report said Turkey approached both Washington and Beirut with a proposal to take part in talks on Hezbollah, the Lebanese political movement and armed group that Israel and the United States want weakened after months of fighting in Lebanon. The report said the US administration had not accepted or rejected the offer.
The Jerusalem Post said one source described the Lebanese government’s reaction as “not very enthusiastic,” citing concern that a Turkish role could add another outside power to Lebanon’s fragile political balance.
Lebanon has long been shaped by foreign intervention, sectarian power-sharing and the presence of armed groups, including Hezbollah, which has political representation and a military wing. Israel and the United States have pushed for Hezbollah’s disarmament, while the group and its supporters say its weapons are for resistance against Israeli occupation and attacks.
The reported Turkish offer comes after direct US-hosted talks between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington earlier this month, the first such meeting in decades between officials from the two countries, which do not have formal diplomatic relations. Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa said the group would not be bound by agreements reached in those talks.
Turkey has sought a larger diplomatic role in several conflicts involving Israel, including Gaza, Syria and Lebanon. Ankara wanted to take part in a planned Gaza security force after US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, but Israel opposed the inclusion of Turkish troops.
Turkey has also increased its public outreach to Lebanon. Ankara delivered 360 tons of humanitarian aid to Beirut last week for civilians displaced by Israeli attacks, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency.
Anadolu said the shipment included tents, blankets, food, clothing, hygiene kits and medical supplies. The aid was delivered through the port of Beirut with Lebanese officials in attendance.
More than a million people have been displaced from southern Lebanon and Beirut since Israel expanded its attacks.
The reported offer follows a near-confrontation between Turkey and Israel in Syria last year, when Israeli strikes hit sites Turkey had reportedly assessed for possible military deployment after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
The two countries later held technical talks to prevent clashes in Syria, but Israeli officials and commentators have since cast Turkey as a rising strategic threat, with some describing it as a possible successor to Iran as Israel’s main regional adversary.