ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday Iran had the 鈥渓egitimate鈥� right to defend itself in the face of Israel鈥檚 ongoing bombing campaign, now in its sixth day.
鈥淚t is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself against Israel鈥檚 thuggery and state terrorism,鈥� the Turkish leader said, a day after referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as 鈥渢he biggest threat to the security of the region.鈥�
The long-range blitz began early Friday, when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign that prompted Iran to hit back with missiles and drones, including hypersonic missiles.
鈥淭hese attacks were organized while the Iranian nuclear negotiations were taking place,鈥� Erdogan said.
鈥淚srael, which possesses nuclear weapons and does not recognize any international rules... did not wait for the negotiations to end but carried out a terrorist act without waiting for the result,鈥� he added.
Iran says at least 224 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks, which have targeted nuclear and military facilities, while Iranian fire on Israel has claimed at least 24 lives and wounded hundreds more, Netanyahu鈥檚 office said.
鈥淲e are closely following Israel鈥檚 terrorist attacks on Iran. All our institutions are on high alert regarding the possible effects of these attacks on Turkiye,鈥� Erdogan said.
鈥淲e are making preparations for every kind of scenario,鈥� he said.
鈥淣obody should dare to test us. We don鈥檛 have any desire to take other people鈥檚 lands... in the region,鈥� he added.
His remarks prompted a sharp riposte from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who pointed to Turkiye鈥檚 presence in Syria and in the divided island of Cyprus, where it controls the northern part.
鈥淚t is particularly ironic that someone who does not hide his imperialist ambitions, who invaded northern Syria and illegally holds northern Cyprus, claims to speak in the name of morality and international law,鈥� Saar wrote on X.
鈥淎 little self-awareness could be helpful,鈥� he added.
On Monday, Erdogan said he had ordered the defense industry to increase production of medium and long-range missiles to 鈥渋ncrease its level of deterrence鈥� in light of the air war between Israel and Iran.