Turkey says NATO defences destroyed missile from Iran headed toward its airspace

ANKARA: NATO air and missile defence systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean ​destroyed a ballistic missile fired from Iran as ‌it headed into Turkish airspace after passing Syria and Iraq, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The incident marks the first time ​that NATO member Turkey, Iran’s neighbour to the ​northwest, has been drawn into the expanding conflict ⁠between Iran and the US and Israel that now ​involves several countries in the region.

“We warn all parties to ​refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation of conflict in the region. In this context, we will continue to consult ​with NATO and our other allies,” the ministry said, ​adding there were no casualties or injuries.

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“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 initial ​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.

Ankara said debris from the air ⁠defence ​missile that intercepted the ballistic missile ​fell in the Dortyol district of Hatay province in southeastern Turkey.