AZE.US
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Monday condemned a missile attack targeting Turkey and expressed solidarity with the Turkish people during a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
According to Azerbaijani officials, Aliyev voiced strong support for Ankara following the incident and reaffirmed the close alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Erdoğan thanked the Azerbaijani leader for the call and for Azerbaijan’s expression of solidarity.
The conversation came amid heightened regional tensions linked to the growing crisis around Iran.
Following a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdoğan said all Turkish government institutions have been placed on heightened alert to ensure the country is not drawn into a broader regional conflict.
“We analyzed different scenarios in case hostilities drag on or the geography of the conflict expands,” Erdoğan said. “All state institutions are on high alert to prevent Turkey from being pulled into the crisis around Iran.”
The Turkish president said the government had also assessed possible consequences of the conflict across several sectors, including the economy, trade, and border security.
“Our main task is to keep our country away from this fire, ensure Turkey’s security and the peace of our 86 million citizens,” Erdoğan added.
Ankara has also warned Iran about the consequences of missile launches toward Turkish territory.
Amid the escalating tensions, Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced the deployment of six F‑16 Fighting Falcon jets and air-defense systems to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as part of additional security measures.
Officials said the move is part of a phased effort to strengthen the security of the territory in light of recent developments in the region. Additional steps may be taken depending on how the situation evolves.
Earlier, authorities in Northern Cyprus said the fighter jets were being deployed for security purposes and that the move would not affect civilian air traffic.
Erdoğan also said Turkey’s airspace is currently protected by F-16 fighters, while air-defense systems have been operating continuously since February 28. According to him, about 60,000 troops are guarding the country’s borders.
The Turkish president revealed that on March 4 a missile launched from Iran – after crossing Iraqi and Syrian airspace — was heading toward Turkey but was neutralized by NATO systems.
“All protests regarding this incident were conveyed to Iran,” Erdoğan said. “Despite our sincere warnings, provocative steps continue that could complicate the friendship between our countries. Problems should not arise that would overshadow our long history of neighborhood. We oppose bloodshed.”