NATO air defences in the eastern Mediterranean have shot down a third ballistic missile that was fired from Iran towards Türkiye, the Turkish Defence Ministry said yesterday, adding that it was asking Tehran for clarification.
Nato air defences shot down the first Iranian ballistic missile fired at Türkiye on March 4 and a second one on March 9.
The ministry has said the first incoming missile was downed en route to Turkish airspace, while the second had entered it.
Türkiye has not disclosed the target of the third missile, saying only it was “entering” Turkish airspace, but an explosion was heard and windows were shaken overnight near the Incirlik Air Base in southern Türkiye’s Adana province, according to social media footage verified by Reuters.
US air forces, along with personnel from Türkiye and other countries, are stationed at Incirlik.
Ankara says Washington has not used the Turkish base in its air assault, alongside Israel, on Iran.
Nato spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed the alliance’s air defences had intercepted a missile from Iran, adding: “Nato remains vigilant and stands firm in its defence of all allies.”
Türkiye, Nato’s second-largest army and Iran’s neighbour, has warned Tehran against any more attacks.
It has protested to Tehran after every incident, while saying it does not want to be dragged into the war between Iran, Israel, and the US.
A Turkish security source said there had been no casualties in the latest incident and there were no reports of any debris falling from the interception.
The Iranian embassy in Ankara later repeated that it was not targeting Türkiye, pointing to Tehran’s proposal to form a joint team to investigate the incidents after a phone call between the two countries’ presidents.
“It is hereby emphasised that no projectiles have been launched from Iran toward Türkiye,” the embassy said on X, adding that Tehran respected Türkiye’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Local media later cited separate Turkish security sources as saying that while Türkiye was acting cautiously to avoid escalating the situation, its stance “does not mean endless tolerance”.
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