NATO said it intercepted a second ballistic missile fired from Iran into Turkish airspace on Monday, 9 March, prompting a warning from Ankara to Tehran.
According to Türkiye’s defence ministry, the missile entered Turkish airspace before being neutralised by NATO air and missile defence systems in the eastern Mediterranean. The alliance confirmed the interception, stating it remains ready to defend all member states against any threat.
It was the second such incident in five days. NATO had previously intercepted another Iran-launched missile heading towards Türkiye on 4 March.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the missile incident the country would "take the necessary measures to defend our nation".
"Despite our sincere warnings, extremely wrong and provocative steps continue to be taken that will jeopardise Turkey's friendship," he said after a cabinet meeting.
The incident comes as Iran continues to launch retaliatory strikes across the Middle East following the start of United States and Israeli military operations against the country. United States troops are present at several bases in Türkiye, including the Incirlik air base near Adana.
The United States urged American citizens in southeastern Türkiye to leave the region and ordered non-essential staff to depart from its consulate in Adana earlier today.
"We were sitting at home when suddenly we heard a big bang. Since there's a construction site here, we thought the noise was coming from there. But when we came and looked, we saw the missile fragment," local resident Ramazan Akpinar told DHA news agency.
After the March 4 missile interception over Turkey, NATO said it was strengthening its "ballistic missile defence posture."
Source: commonspace.eu with Al-Monitor
