Erdogan warns of possible war entry

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkey could enter a war against Israel if ongoing U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan fail. (twitter.com) The claim originated from a DailyIranNews post on X that garnered over 11,000 likes by April 12, 2026. The same thread highlighted U.S. military cargo flights arriving in the Middle East region amid rising tensions. (twitter.com) Erdogan made no such statement in his latest verified public addresses, including a speech on April 10 criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza. Turkish state media Anadolu Agency reported his focus remained on calling for a Gaza ceasefire without mentioning war entry. (aa.com.tr) U.S.-Iran indirect talks, mediated by Oman since April 2025, aim to curb Iran's nuclear program expansion after IAEA reports of 142kg of 60% enriched uranium stockpiled by March 2026. No talks are occurring in Pakistan; that detail appears unsubstantiated by U.S. State Department briefings. (state.gov; iaea.org) Turkey-Israel relations deteriorated after Israel's October 2023 Gaza offensive, prompting Erdogan to sever trade ties worth $7 billion annually and host Hamas leaders in Ankara. Erdogan has supplied Syria's rebels with drones used near Israel's border, escalating proxy frictions. (reuters.com; bbc.com) U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo flights landed at bases in Qatar and UAE on April 11, carrying munitions pallets per Flightradar24 tracking data shared online. Pentagon confirmed routine resupply for 40,000 U.S. troops in the region, denying new escalation. (flightradar24.com; defense.gov) The post fits a pattern of DailyIranNews amplifying unverified claims, with prior threads on "imminent Iran strikes" debunked by FactCheck.org after reaching 50K engagements. Iranian state media IRNA has not referenced Erdogan's alleged warning. (factcheck.org; irna.ir) Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant responded to regional rumors by stating on April 12 that IDF forces stand ready for multi-front threats, without naming Turkey. (timesofisrael.com) Experts like Soner Cagaptay of Washington Institute note Erdogan uses fiery anti-Israel rhetoric for domestic support ahead of 2028 elections, but Turkey's NATO membership and $100B+ trade with West make direct war unlikely. (washingtoninstitute.org) Misinformation on U.S.-Iran talks and Erdogan's words risks inflaming markets, with Tel Aviv stocks dipping 1.2% on April 12 amid the viral post. (bloomberg.com)