NATO intercepts third Iranian missile heading toward Turkey

NATO defense systems in the eastern Mediterranean on Friday shot down another missile launched from Iran that was heading toward Turkish airspace, the third such interception in a little over a week.

“On Friday morning, NATO again successfully intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile heading to Turkey,” the defense alliance said in a post on X. “NATO remains vigilant and stands firm in its defense of all allies,” it added.

It remained unclear whether Iran was directly targeting Turkey or whether the missile was intended to cross Turkish airspace en route to another destination. Tehran claimed that the first two intercepted missiles did not come from Iran.

The two previous interceptions took place: on March 4; and on Monday. No casualties have been reported so far.

Tehran warned European countries on March 3 that supporting the U.S. and Israel would be met with retaliation, after Iran fired weapons toward Cyprus earlier. The expanding conflict started with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

“All necessary measures are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country’s territory and airspace,” Ankara said after the downing on Friday. “Consultations are being conducted with the relevant country to clarify all aspects of the incident,” the Turkish defense ministry said in a statement.

The incidents put Ankara in a dilemma. Iran is Turkey’s neighbor and is considered a “brotherly” country by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Ankara, which has the second-biggest army in NATO, opposes the war in the region.

Erdoğan held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday to discuss the situation, a day after the second missile was shot down.

A statement by the Turkish government on the conversation with Pezeshkian said: “Saying that Turkey doesn’t approve of unlawful interventions against Iran and Iran’s targeting of the brotherly countries in the region, President Erdoğan stated that targeting the brotherly countries benefits no one and that these must all stop.”

However, the statement added: “Pointing out that Turkey is being adversely affected by a conflict it is not party to, President Erdoğan underscored that violation of the Turkish airspace, for whatever reason, cannot be excused and that Turkey will continue to take all the necessary measures against such violations.”