President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has voiced strong objections to the recent overnight air and sea strikes carried out by US and British forces across Yemen. These strikes were in retaliation against the Iran-backed Houthi forces for their attacks on Red Sea shipping.
Erdogan, speaking to reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul, labeled these actions as disproportionate.
Erdogan stated, “All that has been done is a disproportionate use of force.” He further added, “At the moment, they are trying to turn the Red Sea into a sea of blood, and Yemen, with the Houthis and by using all of its force, says it is and will give the necessary response in the region to the United States and Britain.”
Turkey, a NATO member, has traditionally supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government. It also backs the United Nations-led process that aims to establish peace between the government and the Houthis, who have gained control over a significant portion of the country.
Ankara has previously expressed its condemnation of Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Despite this, Erdogan revealed that Ankara had received information from various sources indicating that the Houthis were mounting a “very successful defence, response” against the United States and Britain. He also noted that Iran was exploring “how it can protect itself against all that is happening.”
This development underscores Turkey’s stance on these regional conflicts.