NATO air and missile defense forces intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile over Turkish territory. NATO units based in the Eastern Mediterranean participated in the elimination of the threat.
This was reported by the Turkish Ministry of Defense press service.
According to the ministry, part of the missile debris fell in an uninhabited part of Gaziantep province.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense clarified:
There were no casualties or injuries as a result of the incident.
The statement noted that any threats to Turkish territory and airspace will always be immediately eliminated. The Turkish military recommends that everyone heed this warning.
The ministry also noted:
Turkey attaches great importance to good-neighborly relations and regional stability.
This is the second such incident since the beginning of the US-Israeli military operation against Iran. The previous one occurred on March 4. Then, a ballistic missile launched from Iran flew over Iraq and Syria and reached the Mediterranean Sea, heading toward Turkey. NATO forces shot down the missile over the sea, and its fragments fell in the Turkish province of Hatay, which borders Syria.
Earlier, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced the suspension of air travel with several Middle Eastern countries. The reason for this measure is the escalating situation in the region. According to him, the restrictions will not be lifted until March 9.
