Erdogan pledges to keep Turkey out of regional war as Iranian missile intercepted

ANKARA, Turkey — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged Friday that Turkey will not be drawn into the escalating conflict between a U.S.-Israeli alliance and Iran, even as regional tensions increasingly spill across Turkish borders.

Speaking at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner, Erdogan disclosed that Turkish defense systems had intercepted a third Iranian ballistic missile entering the country’s airspace. He emphasized that Ankara remains on high alert to protect its territorial integrity.

“During this process, we are engaging in all preventative actions against any threats toward our airspace, just as we did last night,” Erdogan said. He told the audience that his administration’s primary objective is to insulate the nation from the widening regional instability, which he described as a "pit of fire."

The president’s remarks come during the second week of a major military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets. The conflict has severely disrupted global trade, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and regional allies of Tehran signaling their readiness to join the hostilities.

The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed that the interception was carried out by air defense units in the eastern Mediterranean. While Turkey has sought to maintain a neutral stance, it has bolstered its defensive posture along its southern and eastern borders to mitigate risks from stray munitions and potential refugee surges.

Erdogan reiterated calls for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, warning that further escalation threatens the stability of the entire Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

GAROWE ONLINE