The Turkish president says the Middle East is experiencing the "most painful period in a century."

On the 26th local time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech in Ankara, issuing a warning about the currently escalating regional situation. Erdoğan said that the war launched against Iran is plunging the region into “blood and smoke,” and that the Middle East is going through “the most painful moment in nearly a century.” In his speech, Erdoğan directly named the Netanyahu government. He accused Israel of not only turning its sights on Iran, but also carrying out a step-by-step plan to invade Lebanon. He specifically mentioned that innocent children are being hit by missile strikes at school, calling such actions utterly without conscience. In the face of upheaval, Erdoğan urged regional countries to set aside differences and see the reality clearly: “What is the difference between the tears shed in Tehran and the tears shed in Beirut and Riyadh?” Erdoğan reiterated that Turkey will never stand idly by in the face of the suffering of its neighboring countries, nor abandon its brotherly people in difficult times. He reminded all parties that no matter how brutal the war is, after the smoke clears, regional countries will still live together on this land, urging everyone to return to reason and peace. (CCTV News)