President Putin And Erdogan Condemn Israel's Attack On Iran, Support Diplomatic And Political Settlement

Israeli attacks on Tehran, Iran. (Wikimedia Commons/Mohammadjavad Alikhani/Mehr News Agency)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel's "violent acts" against Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities as the two spoke by telephone on Monday.

"Both sides expressed the most serious concern about the escalation of the ongoing Iran-Israeli conflict, which has caused large numbers of casualties and is full of serious long-term consequences for the entire region," the Kremlin said in a statement.

"The leaders speak in support of the immediate cessation of hostilities and resolution of disputed issues, including those linked to Iran's nuclear program, exclusively through political and diplomatic means," the statement continued.

Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in Operation "Raising Lion" in the early hours of Friday, claiming it was targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities.

Iran responded to the attack by carrying out retaliatory attacks on a number of targets in a number of Iranian cities. Both sides are still attacking until Monday.

President Erdogan said Israeli attacks were at risk of triggering violence that threatens the entire region, adding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attitude of ignoring the law was a real threat to the international system, underscoring the region could no longer bear war, quoted by the Daily Sabah.

President Erdogan stressed that Turkey had been in active diplomacy since the beginning of the conflict, saying dialogue was the only way to resolve the crisis.

He warned that the latest tensions should not distract from the ongoing genocide attacks against Palestinians in Gaza.

Separately, Iranian authorities said at least 224 people were killed and more than 1,000 others injured as a result of Israeli attacks.

On the other hand, Israeli authorities said at least 24 people were killed and hundreds injured in Iranian missile attacks since Friday.