NATO Shoots Down Second Iranian Missile Over Turkish Airspace

Turkey’s Ministry of Defense said on March 9 that NATO air and missile defense systems intercepted and destroyed another ballistic missile fired from Iran after it entered Turkish airspace over the Eastern Mediterranean.  

On Monday, March 9, the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated in a press release that debris from the missile fell in vacant lots in the city of Gaziantep. According to reports, there were no deaths or injuries.

Gaziantep is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey, close to the Syrian border. For readers outside the region, this underscores how far Iranian missiles are traveling across the Middle East. The interception by “NATO systems” most likely points to the Aegis Ashore missile defense installations or Patriot batteries deployed in Turkey, a country that functions as NATO’s southeastern flank.

In its statement, the Turkish Ministry of Defense emphasized the importance of good neighborly relations and regional stability, declaring that Ankara will “unhesitatingly and decisively” take all necessary measures against any threat to its territory and airspace.

This marks the second time the Islamic Republic has launched a missile toward Turkey. Earlier, on Wednesday, March 4, a ballistic missile fired from Iran - after traveling through Iraqi and Syrian airspace and heading toward Turkey - was intercepted and brought down by NATO defenses.