By Micah Jonah, March 14, 2026
NATO air defences in the eastern Mediterranean have shot down a third ballistic missile fired from Iran towards Turkiye, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Friday, as tensions from the US-Israel war on Iran continue to reverberate westward.
“A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defence assets deployed in the eastern Mediterranean,” the ministry said.
This follows two previous incidents: the first missile was intercepted on March 4 before reaching Turkish airspace, and a second was shot down on March 9 after entering it. NATO confirmed the latest interception, with spokesperson, Allison Hart, stating the alliance remains “vigilant and stands firm in its defence of all allies.”
The missiles increasingly test both Ankara, NATO’s second-largest army, and the alliance itself. Turkey has warned Tehran against further attacks and lodged protests after each incident, though it has not formally requested NATO protection.
Residents in southern Turkish cities reported hearing sirens early Friday morning. Footage circulated on social media showing fragments of a missile burning in the atmosphere and falling to the ground near Adana.
Following the incidents, NATO has strengthened its missile defences in the region, including deploying a US Patriot system to Malatya province to bolster the Kurecik radar base, a key early-warning station for detecting Iranian missile launches.
The Incirlik airbase, hosting US, Spanish, and Polish troops, has long been a strategic NATO facility. While Turkey denies sharing radar data with Israel, the base’s presence has caused tension with Tehran.
Iran has not commented directly on the latest incident but has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting Turkey.
