Türkiye Taking Preventive Measures to Protect Airspace, Avoid Regional Conflict: President Erdogan

Istanbul, The Gulf Observer: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Türkiye is entering a new phase that requires greater agility and proactive policies while prioritizing national security and efforts to keep the country away from regional conflicts.

Speaking during an iftar dinner in Istanbul, Erdogan stressed that protecting Türkiye from escalating tensions in the region remains a top priority.

“At the same time, as was the case last night, we are taking the necessary preventive measures against any threats that violate our airspace,” the president said, adding that “keeping our country away from this fire pit is our top priority.”

His remarks came after a ballistic munition launched from Iran entered Turkish airspace and was subsequently neutralized by NATO air and missile defense assets deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to Türkiye’s Defense Ministry.

Erdogan urged citizens to remain vigilant against attempts to inflame sectarian and ethnic tensions amid the ongoing regional crisis.

The Turkish leader said Ankara continues to act cautiously in the face of potential provocations aimed at drawing the country into war.

“Türkiye proceeds with great caution in the face of plots, traps, and provocations intended to drag our country into conflict,” Erdogan said.

He emphasized the importance of national unity, stating that “as long as we stand firmly united, we can break the unwelcome hands reaching out to our independence and future.”

Addressing the humanitarian situation in the region, Erdogan also criticized what he described as the international community’s silence over atrocities, particularly those committed by Israel.

He said many countries have either ignored oppression and genocide or supported those responsible, noting that only a few nations and organizations have spoken out against the violence.

“In a world suffering from a moral eclipse, we, as Türkiye, are striving to be the conscience of humanity,” the president said.

Erdogan added that the suffering of Gazan and Syrian children has received far less attention than it deserves in global discourse.

The president reiterated that Türkiye will continue to stand by the oppressed and will not back down in the face of injustice, reaffirming the country’s commitment to humanitarian values and regional stability.