NATO intercepts Iranian missile heading toward Turkiye, Ankara says

2026-03-04 - 19:46

A ballistic missile launched from Iran and heading toward Turkiye was intercepted and destroyed by NATO air defence systems over the eastern Mediterranean, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defence. The ministry said the missile was detected crossing Iraqi and Syrian airspace before approaching Turkish territory. NATO air and missile defence assets stationed in the region engaged the projectile “in a timely manner” and rendered it inactive. No casualties or injuries were reported. Turkiye warned that it reserves the right to respond to any hostile actions against its territory, while calling on all parties to avoid further escalation, reports Al-Jazeera. In a national address, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara was taking “all necessary precautions” in coordination with NATO allies to safeguard its borders and airspace. He stressed the importance of strengthening deterrence capabilities during what he described as a critical period. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed Turkiye’s protest during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, urging Tehran to avoid steps that could widen the conflict, according to Reuters. Iran has not officially commented on the incident. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart condemned the targeting of Turkiye and reaffirmed the alliance’s solidarity with all member states. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said there was no indication the incident would trigger NATO’s Article 5 collective defence clause. The development comes amid heightened tensions across the eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus temporarily closed airspace over Larnaca after detecting a suspicious object, while Greek fighter jets and naval vessels were deployed to support regional air defence operations. Security remains tense in the region following recent drone incidents targeting military facilities, as regional and international actors move to prevent further escalation.