Israeli media reports Turkish warships approached Israeli navy vessels

Israeli media reported on Sunday that Turkish warships approached vessels belonging to the Israeli navy and established maritime routes in the area. The report, citing unnamed sources, said the Israeli navy had raised its readiness level in response to a possible development in the Mediterranean. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a sharp statement on Saturday in response to accusations leveled against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by Israel's Foreign Ministry. The Turkish ministry dismissed the claims as "lies and slander," saying they reflected a "cowardly and corrupt mindset." The Israeli media report and the Turkish statement are the latest signs of rising tensions between the two regional powers. No further details on the reported naval incident were immediately available.