Turkish officials condemn Israel's strikes on Iran

ISTANBUL

Turkish officials condemned on Friday Israel’s overnight attack on Iran that targeted its nuclear sites, military facilities and killed its top commanders.

Israel said the strikes were "preemptive," while Iran has vowed a "severe punishment."

Israel's strikes can have “no legitimacy or justification,” said Omer Celik, spokesman of Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party. "This is barbaric aggression," he wrote on X.

With this attack, Israel has added "to its savage and barbaric attacks that set the entire region on fire," he said, condemning the "unlawful" assault in the strongest terms.

The entire world must heed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's warnings about the consequences of the genocidal actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, he added.

Amid rising international pressure against the genocidal campaign in Gaza, Israel has once again launched a new attack to divert attention from its genocide, Celik said.

He said that Israel's attack while negotiations between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program are ongoing "has once again shown that Israel is hostile to all diplomatic efforts."

"Israeli aggression is a threat to the entire world," Celik said, calling on the international community to take joint concrete measures against it.

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz also condemned the attack, calling it “a barbaric act that disregards humanitarian values and diplomacy.”

“We strongly condemn the Netanyahu administration’s aggression, which lacks any legitimate basis and is intended to destabilize the region,” he said on X.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus said it is clear that the attacks will not be limited to Iran, warning they will further destabilize the region and pose a threat to global peace.

He said all international institutions—especially the UN—and states with a responsibility for the future of humanity must urgently take effective action to "stop Israel’s reckless aggression and its blatant disregard for international law."

Fahrettin Altun, head of Türkiye’s Communications Directorate, said the international community’s silence over Israel’s assault on Gaza has turned the situation into one that threatens regional stability and global peace.