Erdogan blames Israel for escalating Middle East tensions

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli leadership bear sole responsibility for the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

"Israel is trying to provoke a regional conflict, and its attack on Iran's embassy in Damascus was the last drop," he told a press conference in Ankara after a cabinet meeting.

He added that the ongoing "cruelty and genocide" in Gaza could potentially lead to new regional conflicts, emphasising the need for all parties to exercise common sense.

Additionally, he criticised the West for condemning Iran's attack while overlooking Israel's strike on Iran's consulate.