President Erdoğan: No hesitation in defending Türkiye's borders, airspace

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a firm message Thursday on Türkiye's unwavering commitment to national security, stating that Ankara demonstrates "no negligence or hesitation in ensuring the security of our borders and airspace" as regional conflict intensifies. Speaking at an event in the capital, Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye's struggle for peace in the region has been "crystal clear since day one" and warned against any "misguided stance that undermines principles of neighborliness and brotherhood."

Response to Missile Incident

Addressing Wednesday's incident in which a munition fired from Iran toward Turkish airspace was intercepted by NATO defense units, Erdoğan confirmed that Ankara demonstrated its "sensitivity" and issued the "necessary warnings" to prevent recurrence. Debris from the intercepted missile fell in Hatay province's Dortyol district with no casualties reported. "Should a threat to our country's security arise, we will take all necessary measures with the utmost care in coordination with our allies," the president added, underscoring Türkiye's coordinated defense posture.

Diplomatic Commitment

Erdoğan stressed that Türkiye's multi-dimensional diplomacy continues with the aim of "preventing further bloodshed in our region and ensuring that no more innocent people are torn from life." His remarks come as the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched February 28, has now killed over 900 people including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and more than 165 elementary schoolgirls, according to Iranian authorities. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and US-linked sites in Gulf countries, disrupting critical energy routes through the Strait of Hormuz.