Newsletters
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that Türkiye is accelerating missile production to boost its short- and long-range stockpiles to a level of deterrence amid growing regional tensions.
“In short order, we'll have a defense capacity that no one will dare challenge,” Erdogan said in a televised address following a Cabinet meeting in Ankara.
He also said Türkiye is engaged in intensive diplomacy to help end the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, noting that both he and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have been actively involved.
“We have clearly informed our counterparts that Türkiye is ready to do whatever is required of us, including facilitation,” Erdogan said.
The Turkish leader warned that Israel's strikes on Iran, carried out under the pretense of targeting nuclear sites, appeared to have broader and “insidious” objectives.
“With every act of oppression, every drop of blood shed, and every crime against humanity, Israel is gradually jeopardizing its own existence and the future of its nation,” Erdogan said.
“Every step taken in our region without considering realities leads to further disasters,” he continued. “These disasters usually result in the downfall of tyrants.”
Erdogan added that Israel, “which destroyed Gaza and bullies the region,” may realize its mistake “too late.”
Tensions have sharply escalated since Friday, when Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on multiple targets in Iran, including nuclear and military facilities, prompting retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran.
Israeli authorities said at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Iranian strikes. Iranian officials reported 224 killed and more than 1,000 wounded in Israeli attacks.
1 min read
2 min read
