Türkiye, Saudi defense chiefs discuss regional security amid Iran conflict

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler held a phone call Wednesday with his Saudi counterpart Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud to discuss bilateral and regional defense and security issues, according to a statement from Türkiye's Defense Ministry. The conversation comes as the US-Israeli war against Iran continues to expand, with Gulf states facing repeated Iranian retaliatory strikes.

Condemnation of Iranian attacks

"We reaffirmed our commitment to all measures aimed at protecting our security," Prince Khalid said, as reported by Arab News. "We condemned the Iranian attacks against our countries, discussed the impact of the regional escalation on security and stability," he added, reflecting shared concern among regional states about being drawn into the widening conflict.

Regional context

Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, which has so far killed over 1,300 people, according to Iranian authorities, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls in a Minab school attack, and senior military officials. Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israeli cities and locations hosting US military assets across the region, with Gulf states repeatedly intercepting incoming projectiles.

Defensive coordination

The phone call between Turkish and Saudi defense leaders underscores the importance of regional coordination as the conflict shows no signs of abating. Both countries have maintained defensive postures while advocating for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions, even as they prepare to protect their territories from potential spillover effects.