Turkey says NATO defences destroyed missile from Iran headed into its airspace
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Ankara said debris from the air defence missile that intercepted the ballistic missile fell in the Dortyol district of Hatay province in south-eastern Turkey.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow our live coverage here.
ANKARA – Turkey said NATO air and missile defence systems destroyed a ballistic missile fired from Iran as it headed into Turkish airspace on March 4, marking the first time the alliance member has been drawn into the expanding Middle East conflict
It was unclear where the missile was headed.
A NATO spokesperson said the transatlantic defence bloc condemned Iran’s targeting of Turkey, adding that it stood firmly with all allies.
The Turkish Defence Ministry said the missile had passed over Iraq and Syria before it was downed by NATO air and missile defence systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean.
There was no immediate comment from the US, which has air forces stationed at Incirlik base in Turkey’s south. The base is in a province bordering Hatay province, where the authorities said debris from the intercepting NATO missile had fallen.
“We warn all parties to refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation of conflict in the region,” the Defence Ministry said, adding that there were no casualties.
“All necessary steps to defend our territory and airspace will be taken resolutely and without hesitation. We remind all parties that we reserve the right to respond to any hostile actions against our country,” it added.
Two other statements by senior Turkish officials about the incident did not mention NATO’s Article 4, which states that allies will “consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security” of a member is threatened.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed a protest to Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi in a call after the incident, a Turkish diplomatic source said.
Ankara sought to mediate talks between Iran and the US in the weeks before the US and Israel launched a strike against Iran, triggering missile and drone attacks by Tehran.
Several countries in the Gulf and elsewhere have been caught in the fallout. REUTERS
