A ballistic missile launched from Iran heading towards the eastern Mediterranean, which was intercepted by NATO’s air defense systems, would have had a different target than Turkey, says a Turkish official, quoted by AFP.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that the projectile, which had crossed Iraq and Syria, was “engaged and neutralized by NATO’s air and missile defense means deployed in the eastern Mediterranean”.
The authorities did not indicate the exact target of the missile, reports the press agency, taken over by France 24.
Turkey “was not the target of the missile” launched by Iran, a Turkish official told AFP, under the protection of anonymity, stating that the ballistic missile would have initially headed towards a military base in Cyprus, but deviated from its trajectory.
Fragments fallen in the Dortyol district, in southern Turkey, near the border with Syria, were identified as belonging to the interceptor used to eliminate the “air threat”. No casualties were reported.
NATO’s Reaction
The incident was strongly condemned by the Alliance.
“NATO stands with all allies, including Turkey, in the context of Iran’s indiscriminate attacks in the region”, declared spokesperson Allison Hart.
She emphasized that NATO’s deterrence and defense posture “remains solid in all areas, including air and missile defense”.
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