Ankara, March 13 (SANA) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Friday that safeguarding Türkiye’s security and preventing the country from being drawn into the ongoing regional conflict is Ankara’s top priority.
Speaking during an iftar event in Istanbul, Erdoğan said Türkiye is acting with “great caution” to avoid provocations or attempts aimed at dragging the country into war amid rising tensions in the region.
He added that authorities are also taking precautionary measures against any threats violating Türkiye’s airspace, referring to an incident that occurred the previous night.
Erdoğan also warned against attempts to inflame sectarian and ethnic tensions during the current regional escalation, urging vigilance against efforts that could undermine social stability.
The Turkish president criticized what he described as double standards in the international response to humanitarian crises in the region, pointing to the suffering of civilians in Syria and Palestine. He also expressed regret that conflicts and wars continue across the Islamic world during these holy days, adding that Gaza still lacks peace despite the current truce.
The remarks come as military escalation continues following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28 and Tehran’s subsequent missile and drone strikes in the region.
Kh.A
