NATO has shot down an Iranian missile over Turkish airspace as Tehran continues its missile attacks. Turkey’s Defense Ministry officials said the interception was carried out by NATO Air and Missile Defense forces assigned to the Eastern Mediterranean region, which targeted and destroyed the incoming missile.
Authorities said the missile debris landed on empty land in Gaziantep, known locally as Dilok, and confirmed that no infrastructure or property had been damaged. They added that the interception stopped the missile from continuing deeper into Turkish territory, preventing any further risk.
In a statement released on March 9, the Ministry reported that a missile launched from Iranian territory toward Turkey was intercepted by NATO defense systems operating in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The ministry added: « Some fragments of the missile fell in deserted areas and vacant lands in Dilok, but fortunately, the incident resulted in no casualties or injuries. »
In the same statement, the Ministry of National Defense also issued a stern warning to Iranian authorities in response to the incident.
It said: « Turkey places great importance on good neighborly relations and regional stability; however, we reiterate that we will take all necessary steps with persistence and without hesitation against any threat to our country’s territory and airspace. »
Gaziantep, located in southeastern Turkey’s near the Syrian border, is one of the country’s largest cities and a major regional center.
On Sunday, Iran’s Armed Forces denied launching any missile toward Turkish territory, insisting in a statement carried by state media that Tehran fully respects Turkey’s sovereignty.
The response came a day after Turkey’s Ministry of National Defence reported that a ballistic missile fired from Iran—after passing over Syria and Iraq—had entered Turkish airspace and was subsequently intercepted and destroyed by NATO air and missile defense systems over the eastern Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, the US has advised non-essential staff to leave its consulate near the southern Turkish city of Adana near a key NATO base and ordered US citizens to leave “southeast Turkey”, the US embassy to Ankara says.
“On March 9, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency US government employees and US government employee family members to leave Consulate General Adana due to the safety risks,” it said on X, referencing a travel advisory saying: “Americans in southeast Turkey are strongly encouraged to depart now”.
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