Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared Iran’s military response to Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign as “legitimate,” accusing Israel of state terrorism and regional destabilization amid escalating hostilities between the two nations.

“It is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself against Israel’s thuggery and state terrorism,” Erdogan said on Wednesday, reiterating his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he recently labeled “the biggest threat to the security of the region.”

The intensifying conflict, now entering its sixth day, began last Friday when Israel launched a sweeping aerial offensive, targeting Iranian nuclear and military installations. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes, reportedly including hypersonic weapons. According to Iranian authorities, at least 224 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks. Israel, meanwhile, claims that Iranian fire has resulted in 24 Israeli deaths and hundreds of injuries.

“These attacks were organized while the Iranian nuclear negotiations were taking place,” Erdogan noted, accusing Israel of undermining diplomacy. “Israel, which possesses nuclear weapons and does not recognize any international rules, carried out a terrorist act without waiting for the result of the talks,” he added.

Amid growing tensions, Erdogan said all Turkish institutions are on high alert for possible fallout from the conflict and confirmed that Turkey is preparing for “every kind of scenario.” He also announced a ramp-up in domestic missile production to enhance Turkey’s defense capabilities.

“We don’t have any desire to take other people’s lands in the region. But nobody should dare to test us,” he warned.

Erdogan’s remarks drew a swift response from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who criticized Turkey’s military presence in northern Syria and its control over northern Cyprus. “It is particularly ironic that someone who does not hide his imperialist ambitions... claims to speak in the name of morality and international law,” Saar said on social media. “A little self-awareness could be helpful,” he added.

The escalating rhetoric underscores deepening fault lines in a region already reeling from conflict, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation. (ILKHA)