Erdogan denies Turkish radars used in effort to down Iranian missiles headed for Israel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint statement to the media in Baghdad, Iraq, April 22, 2024. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye/Pool Photo via AP)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a joint statement to the media in Baghdad, Iraq, April 22, 2024. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye/Pool Photo via AP)

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denies rumors that drones and ballistic missile strikes from Iran’s attack on Israel on April 13 were intercepted due to early detection by a NATO radar base in southeastern Turkey.

“The radar center in Kurecik [Malatya province] does not and cannot have any relationship, bond or contact with any state other than the security of our country and our alliance,” he says.

Speaking at a televised pro-Palestinian event, Erdogan also reiterates that Turkey has slashed diplomatic and commercial ties with Israel and will impose more trade restrictions.

“From a commercial perspective, the only country that imposes export restrictions on Israel in 54 product groups is Turkey,” Erdogan says.

Turkey, a staunch critic of Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, announced that it was restricting exports of 54 types of products to Israel in early April. They include aluminum, steel, construction products, jet fuel and chemical fertilizers. In response, Israel banned products from Turkey.

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