Turkey, Iran scold Israel for airstrikes on Syria

Erdogan blasts Assad for using weekend attack as cover-up for Banias massacre, accuses Tehran of ‘turning a blind eye’

AP — Turkey’s prime minister has denounced Israeli airstrikes on Syria, saying the attacks help strengthen Syrian President Bashar Assad’s hand.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday also criticized Iran for “turning a blind eye” to massacres in Syria and accused the international community of ignoring the bloodshed.

Addressing party members in Parliament, Erdogan said the Israeli airstrikes into Syria were “unacceptable” and amounted to “handing over (to Assad) opportunities on a golden tray.”

Erdogan said: “Assad, who has not sweated a single drop against Israel for the (occupation of the) Golan Heights is now using the Israeli attack to cover up the Banias massacre.”

The Turkish leader was referring to the Syrian coastal town of Banias, where activists say dozens of people, including children, were killed by pro-government gunmen.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister said it is Syria’s Arab neighbors — not Tehran — who should respond to Israel’s recent airstrikes near Damascus.

Ali Akbar Salehi said Arab nations “must stand by their brethren in Damascus.” He also warned of “serious repercussions from a political vacuum” should Assad’s regime collapse.

Salehi spoke to reporters during a visit to the Jordanian capital, Amman, on Tuesday.

He said he believes Israel “would not dare strike” at suspected Iranian nuclear sites but that his country is “prepared for the worst.”

Over the weekend, Israeli warplanes targeted what Israel claimed were caches of Iranian missiles bound for the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah.

Syrian activists said Sunday’s airstrike on a sprawling military complex near Damascus killed at least 42 Syrian soldiers.