Turkey says NATO defences intercepted third missile from Iran, asks Tehran to clarify

By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ece Toksabay

ANKARA, March 13 (Reuters) - NATO air defences in the eastern Mediterranean have shot down a third ballistic missile that was fired from Iran towards Turkey, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Friday, adding that it was asking Tehran for clarification.

NATO air defences shot down the first Iranian ballistic missile fired at Turkey on March 4 and a second one on March 9. The ministry has said the first incoming missile was downed en route to Turkish airspace, while the second had entered it.

Turkey has not disclosed the target of the third missile, saying only it was "entering" Turkish airspace, but an explosion was heard and windows were shaken overnight near the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey's Adana province, according to a Reuters witness and social media footage verified by Reuters.

U.S. air forces, along with personnel from Turkey and other countries, are stationed at Incirlik. Ankara says Washington has not used the Turkish base in its air assault, alongside Israel, on Iran.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed the alliance's air defences had intercepted a missile from Iran, adding: "NATO remains vigilant and stands firm in its defence of all allies."

TURKEY SAYS IT DOES NOT WANT TO BE DRAGGED INTO WAR

Turkey, NATO's second-largest army and Iran's neighbour, has warned Tehran against any more attacks. It has protested to Tehran after every incident, while saying it does not want to be dragged into the war between Iran, Israel, and the U.S.

"All necessary measures are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country's territory and airspace. Consultations are being conducted with the relevant country to clarify all aspects of the incident," the ministry said in a statement.

A Turkish security source said there had been no casualties in the latest incident and there were no reports of any debris falling from the interception.

The Iranian embassy in Ankara later repeated that it was not targeting Turkey, pointing to Tehran's proposal to form a joint team to investigate the incidents after a phone call between the two countries' presidents.

"It is hereby emphasized that no projectiles have been launched from Iran toward Turkey," the embassy said on X, adding that Tehran respected Turkey's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Local media later cited separate Turkish security sources as saying that while Turkey was acting cautiously to avoid escalating the situation, its stance "does not mean endless tolerance".

The Hurriyet newspaper and other media cited the sources as saying Ankara had conveyed "a clear message" to Tehran to demand that it "immediately identify those responsible for the attacks and take the necessary precautions".

They said Turkey would not refrain from responding to the attacks or imposing punitive measures as it sees fit "when the time comes".

TURKEY RELIES ON NATO AIR DEFENCES

Turkey, an emerging leader in the global defence industry, lacks its own fully-fledged air defences despite development efforts, and has relied on NATO air defences stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea against the Iranian missiles.

The Kurecik NATO radar base, to the northeast of Incirlik in the southeastern province of Malatya, provides vital protection for the alliance, including the detection of missiles fired towards Turkey.

Fragments of the previous missile fired from Iran had fallen in a region between the two bases.

Turkey's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that the Russian S-400 air defence systems it acquired in 2019 were not used, as NATO's integrated defences were quicker and more effective.

Following the incidents, NATO has beefed up its ballistic missile defences in the region and deployed a U.S. Patriot air defence system to boost defences at the Kurecik base.