Ankara, Turkey. Turkey said NATO air defences destroyed a ballistic missile fired from Iran as it headed into Turkish airspace on Wednesday. NATO condemned Iran’s targeting of Turkey and said it stood firmly with all allies.
Intercept over eastern Mediterranean
The Turkish defence ministry said the missile passed over Iraq and Syria before it was downed by NATO air and missile defence systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean. It was unclear where the missile was headed.
Turkish authorities said debris from the intercepting NATO missile fell in Hatay province. The defence ministry said there were no casualties or injuries.
NATO and Turkish responses
A NATO spokesperson said the trans-Atlantic defence bloc condemned Iran’s targeting of Turkey and that it stood firmly with all allies.
The Turkish defence ministry warned all parties to refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation, saying Turkey would continue to consult with NATO and other allies. It also said all necessary steps to defend Turkish territory and airspace would be taken, adding that Turkey reserved the right to respond to hostile actions.
Two other initial statements by senior Turkish officials did not mention NATO’s Article 4, which states that allies will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, a member’s territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened.
Diplomatic contacts and regional context
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed a protest to Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi in a call after the incident, a Turkish diplomatic source said.
There was no immediate comment from the United States, which has air forces stationed at Incirlik base in Turkey’s south.
Ankara sought to mediate talks between Iran and the United States in the weeks before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran, triggering missile and drone attacks by Tehran. Several countries in the Gulf and elsewhere have been caught in the fallout.
What impact could this incident have on Turkey’s consultations with NATO and other allies?
