Turkey's Erdogan: Israel's Netanyahu solely responsible for recent Middle East tensions

Turkish President Erdogan blames Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for escalating tensions in the Middle East, citing recent events including attacks and retaliation.

 TURKEY’S PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi shake hands following a news conference in Ankara last week. It is not clear if Iran’s enablers Qatar and Turkey or its allies Russia and China actually call the shots in Tehran or have any influence, says the writer. (photo credit: Turkish Presidential Press Office/Reuters)
TURKEY’S PRESIDENT Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi shake hands following a news conference in Ankara last week. It is not clear if Iran’s enablers Qatar and Turkey or its allies Russia and China actually call the shots in Tehran or have any influence, says the writer.
(photo credit: Turkish Presidential Press Office/Reuters)

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli leadership are solely responsible for the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"Israel is trying to provoke a regional conflict, and its attack on Iran's embassy in Damascus was the last drop," he told a press conference in Ankara after a cabinet meeting.

He added that new regional conflicts were possible as long as the "cruelty and genocide" in Gaza continued, and called on all parties to act with common sense. He also slammed the West for condemning Iran's attack but not Israel's alleged strike on Iran's embassy.

 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a vote on the state budget at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, March 13, 2024. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a vote on the state budget at the assembly hall of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, March 13, 2024. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Iran attacks Israel

Iran attacked Israel with hundreds of explosive drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles launched on Saturday night, to which Israeli officials have vowed to respond.

Iran called the barrage retaliation for an Israeli strike that flattened a building in its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 and killed two of its generals and several other officers.