Exclusive: Turkiye Backs Extremists In Lebanon As ‘blackmail’ Over Cyprus Ties

July 14, 2025 TheMcgwire

Exclusive: Turkiye Backs Extremists In Lebanon As ‘blackmail’ Over Cyprus Ties

Lebanese sources say Turkish and Syrian intelligence are directly sponsoring cross-border arms smuggling into Lebanon, while noting Ankara’s alleged ambitions for control in the country’s north

Turkiye has expressed “deep concern” over Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s recent visit to Cyprus and has plans to “blackmail” Beirut if it chooses to counter Ankara’s influence in the Mediterranean, a senior Lebanese source told The Cradle on 14 July.

“Ankara expressed deep concern over Aoun’s visit to the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, and viewed it as a worrying sign of Beirut’s potential openness to Mediterranean and European partnerships that are inconsistent with its agenda in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the source said.

“Northern Lebanon is witnessing a worrying increase in the number of displaced Syrians with complex security backgrounds,” the source added, noting an increase in cross-border [weapons] smuggling operations which are taking place “under the direct sponsorship and cover of Syrian and Turkish security agencies.”

According to the Lebanese source, Aoun’s visit to Cyprus “revealed files of political and security blackmail prepared by Turkiye for use later if Beirut decides to pursue strategic options that conflict with Ankara’s interests in Lebanon and the region.”

The source went on to say that Ankara “considers northern Lebanon as its traditional area of influence and will not tolerate any new official positioning by Beirut that threatens its geopolitical position in the Mediterranean.”

🔗SOURCE ➡️ The Cradle

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