A ballistic missile launched from Iran and tracked as it travelled over Iraqi and Syrian airspace toward Turkiye was intercepted and destroyed by NATO air defence systems, according to Turkiye’s Ministry of National Defence.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the ministry said the missile was detected heading in the direction of Turkish airspace and was neutralised in time by NATO air and missile defence units deployed in the eastern Mediterranean. Officials noted that there were no casualties or damage reported. The intended target of the missile remains unclear.
Ankara warned that it retains the right to respond to any hostile act against its territory and urged all parties to avoid further escalation in the region.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reportedly raised the issue in a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. According to Reuters, Fidan formally protested the missile’s trajectory toward Turkish airspace and stressed the need to prevent any actions that could deepen the conflict.
NATO also condemned the incident. Spokesperson Allison Hart said the alliance stands firmly with Turkiye and reaffirmed that NATO’s deterrence and defence posture — including its air and missile shield capabilities — remains robust.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the interception of the missile was not expected to trigger NATO’s Article 5 collective defence clause, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.
Turkiye hosts Incirlik Air Base, a strategic facility used by Turkish forces alongside US and other NATO allies. The base has played a key logistical and operational role in past military campaigns, including the 1991 Gulf War and later operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although Turkiye declined US requests to use the base for the 2003 Iraq invasion, it later supported coalition air operations against ISIL beginning in 2014.
Cyprus Heightens Security Measures
Elsewhere in the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus temporarily shut down the airspace over Larnaca on Wednesday after authorities detected what they described as a suspicious aerial object.
This development follows an incident on Sunday in which an Iranian-made drone caused minor damage at a UK military installation on the island. Two additional drones were reportedly shot down on Monday.
According to reports from the region, Greek fighter jets were deployed on Wednesday to intercept another suspected drone near Cypriot airspace. Greek naval vessels have also been positioned in surrounding waters to assist with surveillance and targeting support for F-16 aircraft operating in the area.
Although no new strikes have been recorded in recent days, security conditions remain tense as regional forces maintain heightened alert levels to prevent further drone incursions.