Mar 05, 2026
3 min read
A ballistic missile launched from Iran that entered Turkish airspace "was intercepted and destroyed by NATO's air defense system...
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A ballistic missile fired from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was "intercepted and destroyed by a NATO air defense system deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean," Turkish government communications chief Burhanettin Duran announced today.The missile crossed Iraqi and Syrian airspace before entering Turkey, where it was shot down in the border province of Hatay, causing no casualties or injuries.This is the first incident that has led to a regional conflict.
Turkey's defense ministry said the missile was shot down by "NATO air and missile defense systems in the Eastern Mediterranean," without giving further details.
After the incident, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned his counterpart Abbas Araqchi in a telephone conversation to "refrain from any action that would lead to an escalation of the conflict" that began on Saturday and has affected dozens of countries in the region.
The target of the ballistic missile is currently unknown, approximately 80 kilometers from the NATO Incirlik Air Base, which is home to a Spanish Patriot air defense missile battery and Spanish forces.Earlier on Wednesday, another missile believed to have been fired from Iran landed outside Qamishli airport in northeastern Syria, close to the Turkish border.
"We warn all parties to refrain from actions that could lead to further escalation of the conflict in the region. In this context, we will continue to consult with NATO and our other allies," the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Turkey, like Spain, has not allowed US military facilities to be used for strikes against Iran.This was confirmed by Ankara in a statement that clarified that it does not allow "its air, land or sea elements, including its airspace, to be used for operational purposes in favor of the parties".Turkey believes that it was not the target of the missile and that the projectile may have deviated from its course on its way to Cyprus, a Turkish official told AFP.An Iranian-made drone crashed into the landing strip of a British air force in Cyprus yesterday, prompting France, Greece and Britain to send frigates, fighter jets and anti-missile systems to defend the island.
Alison Hart, a spokeswoman for NATO, condemned "Iran's attack on Turkey" and assured the organization of "strong support for all allies" "as Iran continues its unjust aggression."He said, "Our defense and defense systems remain strong in all areas, including air and missile defense."not" that the situation causes something like "Article 5 of NATO", which states that "attacks against one or more (of the two parties), occurring in Europe or North America, shall be considered as attacks against the Alliance".
Turkey has tried to mediate between Tehran and Washington and is trying to resolve tensions between the two countries through diplomatic means.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the US and Israeli attacks on Iran "illegal".I'm sorry.
Ankara fears that the war in Iran could cause a wave of displaced people to its border."After the events in Syria, we built a wall along the border with Iran," explained Fidan in a television interview about the regional situation.With this there is also the concern that the United States and Israel are trying to strengthen the Kurdish militias in Iran to destabilize the regime, including groups linked to the Kurdish PKK guerrillas present in Turkey.The war in the neighboring country is in the middle of a process for the PKK to be disarmed and dissolved after 40 years of fighting against the Turkish state.
