Erdoğan demands end to 'senseless, unlawful' US-Israel war on Iran

2026-03-17 - 22:40

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a sharp condemnation Tuesday of the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, calling for an immediate end to what he described as a "senseless, unlawful, and extremely wrong war." Speaking at an iftar event at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdoğan outlined Türkiye's active efforts to contain the widening regional conflict. Strong condemnation of violations "We have strongly condemned attacks violating international law, regardless of who carries them out, as we work to prevent the war from spreading," Erdoğan stated. His remarks come as the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran, launched Feb. 28, has claimed more than 1,200 lives including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian figures. The president's unequivocal language places Türkiye firmly among voices critical of the military campaign's legal and moral basis. Türkiye's stabilizing role Erdoğan emphasized that Ankara is managing the volatile situation with "patience, prudence, and a careful approach to provocations." He noted that Türkiye is taking necessary measures to limit the war's negative impact on the economy and citizens, reflecting the conflict's far-reaching consequences even for nations not directly involved. The president's comments underscore Türkiye's positioning as a regional power capable of maintaining dialogue with multiple parties while advocating for diplomatic solutions. Conflict widening The war shows no signs of abating, with Iran retaliating through drone and missile strikes targeting what it terms "US military assets" across Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries. The exchanges have caused casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and aviation. Adding to regional instability, Israeli forces have intensified airstrikes and artillery shelling across southern Lebanon since early Tuesday, alongside a limited ground incursion, according to the Lebanese army and state media, threatening to open another front in the expanding conflict.