NATO Defenses on Wednesday intercepted a ballistic projectile launched from Iran toward Turkish airspace.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) vowed the “complete destruction” of the region’s military and economic infrastructure as the US-Israeli war on Iran widens.
Türkiye Downs Missile
The Turkish Defense Ministry said that NATO air and missile defense systems in the Eastern Mediterranean intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran towards Türkiye’s airspace.
In a statement, the Ministry said that the missile was detected after passing through the airspace of Iraq and Syria, heading toward the Turkish airspace.
Shrapnel resulting from the interception process fell in the Dörtyol district of Hatay, with no casualties or injuries reported.
“While Türkiye stands on the side of regional stability and peace, it is fully capable of safeguarding its territory and citizens against threats from any actor or direction,” the statement said.
“Every necessary step for the defense of our land and airspace will be taken resolutely and without hesitation. We remind that our right to respond to any hostile act against our country remains reserved,” the statement added.
It also warned the warring parties against conflict escalation. “We call on all parties to refrain from steps that could further escalate the conflict in the region. In this context, we will continue consultations with NATO and our other allies,” the statement noted.
This incident marks the first time that Türkiye, a NATO member and Iran’s northwest neighbor, gets targeted in the widening conflict.
Since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, several countries across the Middle East have been impacted by Iranian retaliatory strikes. So far, the list includes Israel, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Syria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and Türkiye.
NATO Condemnation
In response, NATO condemned the incident, without confirming if the bloc’s air defenses were used to down the missile. “We condemn Iran’s targeting of Türkiye. NATO stands firmly with all Allies, including Türkiye, as Iran continues its indiscriminate attacks across the region,” NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said.
“Our deterrence and defense posture remains strong across all domains, including when it comes to air and missile defense,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, contacted his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, by phone to discuss the matter, reported the Associated Press (AP) citing a Turkish official.
During the call, Fidan stressed that Iran must avoid “all steps that could escalate the conflict and contribute to its spread,” according to the official.
Iranian Warning
As the conflict escalates, Iran’s IRGC vowed severe consequences for the region in retaliation for the US military strikes. In a statement carried by the Iranian state TV, the Revolutionary Guard threatened the “complete destruction” of the region’s military and economic infrastructure.
“The continued mischief and deception by the United States in the region will come at the cost of the complete destruction of the region’s military and economic infrastructure,” it said.
Moreover, it claimed that the US military was using civilian infrastructure as “cover.”
Iran War
The US-Israeli war on Iran entered its fifth day on Wednesday. Israel said it carried out a series of strikes targeting the Basij and internal security command centers in Tehran, as well as missile launchers and other systems.
It also struck a missile storage and production facility in Isfahan and shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 fighter jet.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that US and Israel strikes on 2,000 Iranian targets “severely degraded” Iran’s “air defenses and hundreds of ballistic missile launchers and drones.”
Late on Tuesday, CENTCOM Commander, Adm. Brad Cooper, said that the US military destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including what he called Iran’s “most operational” submarine.
In retaliation, Iran has launched more than 500 ballistic missiles and more than 2,000 drones, according to Cooper.
The Iranian state TV said that the IRGC launched 40 ballistic missiles in the latest barrage against US military-affiliated targets across the Middle East.
According to Reuters’ data, Iran has targeted Gulf countries with over 2,000 projectiles, including 468 ballistic missiles; 1,455 drones; 11 cruise missiles and 2 aircraft. Gulf defenses have successfully repelled the vast majority of Iranian strikes.
As for death toll, the US announced the death of 6 service members in a strike on a facility in Kuwait, while Iran said the US-Israeli attacks have so far killed 1,045, including at least 165 in a school bombing.
Iranian strikes killed 12 people in Israel, while Israeli strikes killed 52 in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iranian strikes and projectiles debris have killed 3 in Kuwait, one in Oman, 3 in the UAE and one in Bahrain.
