Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned against a "devastating war" between Israel and Iran that could trigger a refugee crisis in a telephone conversation with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The two leaders were speaking as Israel and Iran exchanged deadly barrages of missiles and drones and amid fears the Middle East could be on the threshold of a broader conflict.
"President Erdogan said during the conversation that our region cannot tolerate another crisis, and a devastating war could create waves of irregular migration towards all the countries in the region," the Turkish presidency said in a statement.
Erdogan also called for Israel "to be stopped," calling it "the main threat to stability and security in the region," the statement said.
The president said the issue of Iran's nuclear program "can only be resolved through negotiations."
"The fact that the international community has closed its eyes to the occupation and genocide in Palestine has led Israel to this level of flouting the law and its aggression," Erdogan was quoted as saying.
Israel on Friday launched an unprecedented attack on Iran, killing top army commanders, nuclear scientists and other senior officials, a missile barrage that Tehran said claimed 78 lives.
In response, Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel, killing three people and wounding more than 70 others.
AFP
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