Breaking News... Erdoğan's first reaction to Israel: 'A clear provocation'

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reacted sharply to the airstrikes carried out by Israel against Iranian territory. Evaluating the developments unfolding before the eyes of the international community, Erdoğan said that the attacks threaten peace and stability in the region.

President Erdoğan made the following statements in his address:

"As of this morning, Israel has moved its strategy of drowning our region—starting with Gaza—in blood, tears, and instability to a very dangerous stage. The attacks carried out by Israel against our neighbor Iran are a clear provocation that disregards international law. These attacks, carried out at a time when negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program are intensifying and international pressure is mounting against inhumane actions in Gaza, demonstrate Israel's lawless mentality. The Netanyahu administration is striving to drag our region and the entire world into catastrophe with its reckless, aggressive, and lawless actions. The international community must now put a stop to this Israeli thuggery that targets global and regional stability. The attacks by Netanyahu and his network of massacres, which set our entire region on fire, must be prevented. We express once again today that we do not want to see more blood, destruction, and conflict in the Middle East. As Turkey, we condemn the heinous attacks against our neighbor Iran; we wish God's mercy upon those who lost their lives, a speedy recovery to the injured, and we extend our condolences to the friendly and brotherly people of Iran."