A ballistic missile launched from Iran entered Turkish airspace and was intercepted by NATO defense systems in the eastern Mediterranean on Monday.
Turkish Defense Ministry Statement
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that a ballistic missile fired from Iran entered Turkish airspace before being shot down by NATO anti-air and anti-missile defense systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean.
The ministry affirmed that all necessary measures to prevent threats to Turkish territory and airspace are being taken “decisively and without hesitation.” It stated that all regional developments are closely monitored, with national security as a priority.
Repeated Incidents and Protests
This marks the fourth such incident since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. In previous instances of NATO intercepting Iranian missiles, Ankara lodged protests and issued warnings to Tehran.
Iran has consistently denied responsibility for the missile launches, offering Turkey a joint investigation to clarify the circumstances of the events.
Retaliatory Attacks
In response to the war initiated by the U.S. and Israel on February 28th, Iran has also been conducting retaliatory attacks against other countries in the region.