ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday warned that Turkey should not be tested or provoked, asserting that Ankara would continue its efforts to stop what he described as Israeli “aggression” amid ongoing escalation between Israel and Iran. "The Republic of Turkey is not just any state among states. No one should dare to compare us with others. No one should attempt to test us, challenge us, or push the limits of our patience," Erdogan said during a meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). His comments come after Israel on Friday launched a wide-scale aerial assault on Iran, targeting key nuclear facilities and killing several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran responded with waves of missiles and drones that struck multiple sites inside Israeli territory. According to Iranian authorities, at least 224 people - mostly civilians - have been killed and over 1,300 injured in the Israeli strikes. Israeli officials say at least 24 civilians have been killed and around 600 injured in the retaliatory attacks from Iran. Erdogan also emphasized Turkey’s military capabilities, saying, “Turkey is now a country that protects its own airspace with domestically developed national air defense systems and possesses an integrated and layered defense architecture." He added that his country is “closely monitoring Israel’s terrorist attacks against Iran,” accusing Israel of expanding “the scope of its banditry” by “attacking certain targets in Iran and carrying out assassinations within the country.” In response, Israeli Defense Minister Gideon Saar said on X that “Erdogan continues his provocative rhetoric against Israel and the Israeli Prime Minister in another enthusiastic and aggressive speech,” accusing the Turkish leader of “suppressing the freedoms and rights of his citizens, as well as dissent within his country.” In March 2025, mass protests broke out in Turkey following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoglu, a key rival to Erdogan, on charges seen as politically motivated. Authorities cracked down heavily, detaining over 1,400 people and banning public gatherings in cities like Istanbul and Ankara. Rights groups, the UN, and EU officials condemned the arrests and use of force. Reaffirming Ankara’s diplomatic push, Erdogan said, “Our efforts to stop Israel’s aggression will continue, and our initiatives to establish peace in our region will increasingly continue. We will not pause our diplomatic engagements or our telephone diplomacy. We will make every effort to prevent a catastrophe that could affect everyone.” On Sunday, Erdogan held a phone call with US President Donald Trump, discussing the growing conflict and calling for renewed diplomatic efforts. Turkey was also among 20 Islamic and Arab nations that issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning Israel’s attack on Iran. Ties between Ankara and Tel Aviv have deteriorated over the past months. The two countries formally severed diplomatic relations in November, following Erdogan’s accusation that Israel was prolonging the war in Gaza. Despite that, Turkish and Israeli officials resumed diplomatic talks in April.
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