Missile launched from Iran towards Türkiye destroyed: Ankara

The missile, launched from Iran, was heading towards Turkish airspace through Iraq and Syria.

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ISTANBUL: A missile launched from Iran, heading towards Turkish airspace through Iraq and Syria, has been destroyed by NATO air defence systems, Turkish officials said on Wednesday (Mar 4).

"A ballistic munition launched from Iran, which was detected passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace and heading towards Turkish airspace, was engaged in a timely manner by NATO air and missile defence assets stationed in the eastern Mediterranean and rendered inactive," the defence ministry said in a statement.

"The munitions fragment that fell in the Dortyol district of Hatay province was identified as belonging to the air defence munitions that intercepted the threat after it was destroyed in the air," the ministry said, adding there were no casualties.

"Any steps necessary to defend our territory and airspace will be taken decisively and without hesitation," it added.

"We reiterate that we reserve the right to respond to any hostile actions directed at our country."

After the incident, Türkiye warned Tehran against any steps that could escalate the war, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan telling his Iranian counterpart in a phone call that "any steps that could lead to the spread of conflict should be avoided", a ministry source said.

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