Former Turkish Admiral Refutes Trump Claim on Turkey Attacking Israel, Explains Iran's Motives

Former Turkish Admiral and Professor Cihat Yayci sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's recent statement claiming that "if not for me, Turkey would attack Israel." In an interview with the Turkish media platform GZT, Yayci argued that Trump's remark wrongly portrays Ankara as an aggressor and enemy of Israel, equating Turkey with Iran, which he said is unrealistic.

Yayci further revealed the reasons behind Iran's attacks on Israel, highlighting factors such as the elimination of senior Hezbollah figures, Israeli strikes attributed to the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and actions targeting Iran itself. He emphasized that Palestine was not the cause of Iran's assaults, noting that Iranian representatives have previously stated they would not intervene unless Iran itself was attacked.

This perspective challenges the narrative that regional tensions stem primarily from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, instead pointing to direct confrontations involving Iran and its proxies. The comments come amid ongoing threats from Iran toward Israel, including recent warnings of strong retaliation.

According to the report by Ma'ariv, Yayci's insights provide a nuanced understanding of the complex motivations behind Iran's hostility toward Israel, distancing Turkey from accusations of aggression in the region.