Ankara / Gulf Capitals, Mar.8 (SANA) Türkiye condemned Iranian attacks targeting several Gulf countries, warning that the ongoing military confrontation between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other risks escalating across the region and threatening its stability.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that attacks on Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain endanger the lives of civilians and increase the likelihood of a broader conflict.
Speaking at a press conference following an informal ministerial meeting of the Organization of Turkish States in Istanbul, Fidan highlighted that the strikes represent a serious threat to regional security.
“The attacks place innocent civilians at risk and raise the prospect of a wider war,” Fidan noted, calling on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid actions that violate the sovereignty of states.
He also warned that targeting Türkiye and Azerbaijan earlier this week reflect the scale of the dangers facing the region.
Fidan reiterated that Ankara is continuing diplomatic contacts with friendly countries in an effort to halt the war and prevent its expansion, urging the adoption of dialogue and cooperation to address the challenges confronting the region.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported that its air defense systems had intercepted and neutralized two Iranian drones in its airspace.
Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, the ministry’s spokesperson, said one drone was intercepted east of Riyadh, while another was destroyed over the Rub’ al-Khali desert as it was heading toward the Shaybah oil field.
He added that a ballistic missile crashed in an uninhabited area after being launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, with no casualties reported.
In a related development, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar stressed the need to halt attacks targeting countries in the region and to prioritize diplomatic solutions.
According to the UAE’s state news agency WAM, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned the attacks during a telephone conversation on Saturday.
The two leaders stated that the assaults constitute a “blatant violation of state sovereignty, international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter”.
They called for and restraint to prevent further deterioration of regional security.
A/Dh
