Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday that airstrikes on Iran began with the “provocations of the Zionist lobby,” warning that the fighting is spreading across the Middle East and raising risks for the Gulf states and Turkey.
Speaking at an event in Ankara, Erdoğan said last week’s clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan were followed by airstrikes against Iran that he described as being instigated by the “Zionist lobby.” He said missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf countries have deepened instability.
The Turkish president reiterated that Turkey is continuing diplomacy aimed at “peace, tranquility and stability” and that Ankara has taken “all necessary measures” to keep the country and the public safe from spillover risks.
Erdoğan said Turkey has “mobilized all our resources” to end the turmoil before it spreads and drives wedges between “brotherly countries.”
The fighting entered its fourth day on Tuesday after US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei triggered Iranian missile and drone retaliation against Israel and US-linked targets in the Gulf, with Israel saying it was launching new waves of strikes on Tehran.
Hezbollah, Iran’s ally in Lebanon, joined the fighting and has been launching rockets, missiles and drones at Israel, and Israel has responded with airstrikes in Lebanon and additional troop deployments in the southern part of the country.
Turkey shares a long border with Iran and is a member of NATO. Ankara has sought to avoid being drawn into the expanding conflict while keeping channels open with the United States, Iran and key regional governments.