ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday Iran had the “legitimate” right to defend itself in the face of Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign, now in its sixth day.
“It is a very natural, legitimate and legal right for Iran to defend itself against Israel’s thuggery and state terrorism,” the Turkish leader said, a day after referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “the biggest threat to the security of the region.”
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.
“These attacks were organized while the Iranian nuclear negotiations were taking place,” Erdogan said.
“Israel, 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,” 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’s office said.
“We are closely following Israel’s terrorist attacks on Iran. All our institutions are on high alert regarding the possible effects of these attacks on Turkiye,” Erdogan said.
“We are making preparations for every kind of scenario,” he said.
“Nobody should dare to test us. We don’t have any desire to take other people’s lands... in the region,” he added.
His remarks prompted a sharp riposte from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who pointed to Turkiye’s presence in Syria and in the divided island of Cyprus, where it controls the northern part.
“It 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,” Saar wrote on X.
“A little self-awareness could be helpful,” he added.
On Monday, Erdogan said he had ordered the defense industry to increase production of medium and long-range missiles to “increase its level of deterrence” in light of the air war between Israel and Iran.
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Under Israeli attack, Iran has ‘legitimate’ right to self-defense: Erdogan
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Under Israeli attack, Iran has ‘legitimate’ right to self-defense: Erdogan
- Erdogan said Turkiye is 'closely following Israel’s terrorist attacks on Iran'
- He had ordered the defense industry to increase production of medium and long-range missiles to 'increase its level of deterrence'
Netanyahu mocks corruption trial as ‘Bugs Bunny’ farce
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the ongoing corruption case against him as a “Bugs Bunny trial” and defended his controversial pardon request in a video published on social media.
The three-minute video, released late Thursday, came a week after Netanyahu formally requested a pardon from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, arguing that his prosecution was dividing the nation.
US President Donald Trump also sent a letter last month to Herzog with the same request.
In the video shared online late Thursday, Netanyahu denounced the proceedings a “political trial” designed to force him from office, reiterating his longstanding denial of any wrongdoing.
The charges include two cases in which Netanyahu allegedly negotiated favorable media coverage from Israeli news outlets, and a third involving accusations he accepted more than $260,000 in luxury gifts — including cigars, jewelry, and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favors.
A fourth corruption charge was previously dismissed.
In the video, Netanyahu held up a Bugs Bunny puppet, mocking prosecutors for allegedly citing a cartoon doll he received as a gift for his son 29 years ago as evidence against him.
“From now on, this trial will be known as the Bugs Bunny trial,” he declared.
Netanyahu further dismissed the cigar gifts as presents “from a friend” and claimed his alleged attempts to secure favorable coverage from “a second-rate Internet site” instead resulted in “the most hateful, antagonistic, negative press coverage you can imagine in Israel.”
Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial for corruption.
The proceedings, which began in 2019, have recently required him to testify three times weekly — a schedule he argues prevents him from effectively governing.
“This farce is costing the country dearly,” he said. “I can’t deal with that... So I asked for a pardon.”
The cases have exposed sharp divisions in Israeli society.
On Monday, before Netanyahu’s latest court appearance, rival groups of protesters gathered outside the Tel Aviv courthouse — some chanting in support of the prime minister, others opposing him, including demonstrators wearing bright orange prison-style jumpsuits to imply that he should be imprisoned.
The three-minute video, released late Thursday, came a week after Netanyahu formally requested a pardon from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, arguing that his prosecution was dividing the nation.
US President Donald Trump also sent a letter last month to Herzog with the same request.
In the video shared online late Thursday, Netanyahu denounced the proceedings a “political trial” designed to force him from office, reiterating his longstanding denial of any wrongdoing.
The charges include two cases in which Netanyahu allegedly negotiated favorable media coverage from Israeli news outlets, and a third involving accusations he accepted more than $260,000 in luxury gifts — including cigars, jewelry, and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favors.
A fourth corruption charge was previously dismissed.
In the video, Netanyahu held up a Bugs Bunny puppet, mocking prosecutors for allegedly citing a cartoon doll he received as a gift for his son 29 years ago as evidence against him.
“From now on, this trial will be known as the Bugs Bunny trial,” he declared.
Netanyahu further dismissed the cigar gifts as presents “from a friend” and claimed his alleged attempts to secure favorable coverage from “a second-rate Internet site” instead resulted in “the most hateful, antagonistic, negative press coverage you can imagine in Israel.”
Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial for corruption.
The proceedings, which began in 2019, have recently required him to testify three times weekly — a schedule he argues prevents him from effectively governing.
“This farce is costing the country dearly,” he said. “I can’t deal with that... So I asked for a pardon.”
The cases have exposed sharp divisions in Israeli society.
On Monday, before Netanyahu’s latest court appearance, rival groups of protesters gathered outside the Tel Aviv courthouse — some chanting in support of the prime minister, others opposing him, including demonstrators wearing bright orange prison-style jumpsuits to imply that he should be imprisoned.
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