Ankara: NATO 'condemns Iran's targeting of Turkey,' says spokeswoman Allison Hart, after the alliance's systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile before it could enter Turkish airspace. 'NATO stands firmly with all Allies, including Turkey, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region,' Hart said.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Turkish presidency confirmed on Wednesday that defence systems intercepted the ballistic missile. The missile, which was tracked passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace, was 'neutralized' by NATO systems, the office head Burhanettin Duran stated on X.
No casualties or major damage were reported on Turkish territory. Debris found in the D¶rtyol district of the Hatay province, along the Syrian border, originated from the interceptor system in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish Defence Ministry separately confirmed on X. The ministry warned it 'preserves the right to respond' to any threat.
On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that the alliance was not involved in the conflict, despite the US being a NATO ally and Iran previously retaliating with strikes against military bases of other allies.