Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence reported in recent hours that an Iranian-launched ballistic missile, which after flying over Iraq and Syria was heading towards Turkish airspace, was destroyed in mid-flight by NATO air defence systems deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, in the second such incident in just six days.
In a statement quoted by the TRT Haber news channel, the ministry explained that the missile was neutralised after entering Turkish airspace: “Some munitions fell into an empty field in Gaziantep province. There were no deaths or injuries in the incident”.
The official note further added that “Turkey attaches great importance to good neighbourly relations and regional stability. However, we reiterate once again that all necessary measures will be taken with determination and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country’s territory and airspace. We remind everyone that it is in everyone’s interest to heed Turkey’s warnings in this regard,” the statement concluded in a clear tone of warning to the neighbouring country.
Turkish Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also confirmed that “A ballistic missile, detected after being launched from Iran and directed towards our country, was intercepted in the skies and neutralised in time by NATO air and missile defence elements over the Şahinbey district of Gaziantep. No one was killed or injured in the incident,” stressing that all institutions followed the situation from the first moment and immediately activated the necessary defence and security measures.
“The will and capability of our state to protect Turkey’s border security and airspace are at the highest level. It is of utmost importance that tensions in the region do not escalate further and that the conflict does not spread to a wider area. We once again strongly reiterate our warning to all parties, especially Iran, to refrain from actions that would jeopardise regional security and endanger civilians,” Duran emphasised.
Second missile strike on Turkey in 6 days
In an additional statement, NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart confirmed that “another missile aimed at Türkiye had been intercepted” and reiterated that “NATO remains committed to defending all its allies against any threat”.
This is the second ballistic missile from Iran to enter Turkish airspace in just six days. On 4 March, the Turkish Defence Ministry announced that a ballistic missile launched from Iran and heading towards Türkiye had been shot down by NATO air and missile defence elements deployed in the region, in an operation in which Spain’s Patriot missile battery deployed at the İncirlik air base in Adana, in the south of the country, also took part.
A fragment of the NATO interceptor missile that destroyed the Iranian missile then fell in the Dörtyol district of Hatay province, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Despite Turkey’s protests, Iran then denied having launched missiles into Turkish territory, claiming to respect “the sovereignty of Turkey, a friendly and neighbouring country“.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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