Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pointed the finger at Israel for triggering Iran's retaliatory strike following the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. Erdogan placed the blame squarely on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration, accusing them of inciting regional tensions.

In a televised address to the nation after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Erdogan cited Netanyahu's role in escalating the situation, labeling it as "unfair to look at the attack that Iran carried out on Israel last Saturday in isolation." He accused Israel of attempting to turn the entire region into a "coil of fire" since October 7.

Erdogan's remarks came amid heightened tensions following Iran's retaliatory attack on Israel. He criticized Western countries for adopting a double standard in their response, condemning Iran's actions while remaining silent on Israel's attack on the Iranian consulate.

The Turkish president condemned Israel's actions in the besieged Palestinian Gaza Strip, accusing Israeli forces of killing thousands of people and implementing "genocidal policies" for over 132 days.

On April 1, Israel launched an attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of 13 people, including top army officers. In response, Iran announced a retaliatory attack, which was carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ten days later.

The IRGC's attack on Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles escalated tensions across the Middle East. Political analysts estimate that Israel spent approximately one and a half billion US dollars to counter Iran's attack, resulting in damage to several Israeli airbases.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also criticized Israel during a phone conversation with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, expressing solidarity with Iran's stance. Despite international pressure for restraint, Israel decided to respond to Iran's attack, further escalating the conflict in the region.

In response to the escalating tensions, President Raisi reaffirmed Iran's commitment to defending its interests, warning of stronger and more painful responses to any further actions against Iran.