Following the Iranian airstrike on Israel over the weekend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan claimed the missiles launched against Israel on April 13 were the result of Israeli military action, stating in a televised address:
The one chiefly responsible for the tension that gripped our hearts on the evening of April 13 is Netanyahu and his bloody administration.… Since October 7, the Israeli government has opted for provocative moves in order to spread the fire to the entire region. The Israeli government targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, violating international law and the Vienna Convention, and that was the last straw.
Iran’s UN representatives released a statement claiming the attack was a legitimate defensive response to the airstrike on their consulate in Damascus, Syria, stating on X:
Conducted on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense, Iran’s military action was in response to the Zionist regime’s aggression against our diplomatic premises in Damascus. The matter can be deemed concluded. However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe. It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!
