Turkey reported on Monday (9) that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defenses intercepted yet another ballistic missile launched from Iran that entered its airspace. According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the missile was neutralized by alliance air defense systems positioned in the Eastern Mediterranean. Missile fragments fell in unoccupied areas of Gaziantep province, in the southeast of the country, and there were no deaths or injuries.
This is the second Iranian missile intercepted by NATO forces in Türkiye. The first was shot down last week before crossing the country’s border. This time the missile even entered Turkish airspace before being neutralized.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement published on social media that “we once again emphasize that all necessary measures will be taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country’s territory and airspace.” The ministry added that “it is in everyone’s interest to heed Turkey’s warnings in this regard”.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated, after a cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, that Turkey has already transmitted the necessary warnings to Iran due to missile fire approaching Turkish territory. Erdogan classified the Iranian regime’s actions as “wrong and provocative steps” and said that Ankara’s main objective is to keep the country out of the “flame” of war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
A NATO spokesperson confirmed to the international press that the alliance is ready to defend its members. Turkey has the second largest army in NATO, but still depends in part on NATO air defense systems to protect against ballistic threats.
To date, Ankara has not formally activated NATO’s Article 4, a mechanism that provides for consultations between allies when a member feels threatened, a step that could pave the way for discussions on additional collective measures.
