Kaynak, MSB
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- Yazan, BBC News Türkçe
- Unvan, Londra
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Okuma süresi 3 dk
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced Wednesday that a ballistic missile fired from Iran was intercepted.
According to the ministry, the missile traversed Iraqi and Syrian airspace before entering Turkish territory, at which point it was shot down by NATO air and missile defense assets stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean. This incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following recent attacks by Israel and the United States against Iranian targets.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that “necessary warnings were issued” during an iftar program, a traditional evening meal during Ramadan.
The ministry reported that debris from the intercepted missile landed in the Dörtyol district of Hatay province, but no casualties or injuries were reported.
In a statement, the ministry warned “all parties to refrain from steps that could escalate the conflict further in the region.”
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Arakchi, following the incident.
According to sources within the Foreign Ministry, Fidan conveyed Ankara’s concerns to Arakchi regarding the intercepted missile.
Fidan reportedly told Arakchi that all parties should avoid any actions that could escalate the conflict.
A Turkish official, speaking to the AFP news agency, said the missile was not aimed at Turkey.
“We believe the missile was heading towards a base in South Cyprus, but deviated and entered Turkish airspace,” the official said, requesting anonymity.
NATO Condemns Iranian Attack
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated, “We condemn Iran’s attack on Turkey.”
Hart added, according to Reuters, that NATO stands with all of its allies, including Turkey.
“Our deterrence and defense posture, including air and missile defense, remains robust across all domains,” Hart said.
Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said in a statement posted to social media that “necessary responses will be given within the framework of international law to any hostile attitudes encountered.”
Duran added that they will continue to consult and cooperate with NATO and allies during this process, and called on all parties to avoid steps that could escalate tensions and spread the conflict to a wider area.
As Israel and the United States continue their fifth day of attacks against Iranian targets, Iran is too targeting Israel and American bases and embassies in the region with ballistic missiles and drones.
Iran has attacked numerous regional locations to date, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Cyprus, and Jordan.
‘Will Change Ankara’s Position’
Sinan Ülgen, Director of the Economic and Foreign Policy Research Center (EDAM), noted that Turkey did not allow the use of İncirlik Air Base in attacks against Iran, suggesting the Iranian missile may have been targeting the Kürecik Radar Station in Malatya:
“Kürecik provides situational awareness. In that sense, it is an infrastructure that also monitors Iran. In the past, Iran has directly threatened Kürecik.”
The Kürecik Radar Station in Akçadağ district of Malatya was established in 2012 and is an early warning facility affiliated with NATO.
Then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad criticized the establishment of the base in 2011, claiming it was built to protect Israel from potential Iranian missile attacks.
EDAM’s director commented that if it becomes clear that Iran directly targeted Turkey, this would be a move that would change Ankara’s position:
“Until now, Turkey’s assumption was that Iran would not attack Turkey. But that assumption has been proven incorrect. In that respect, it changes the situation.”
Associate Professor Sıtkı Egeli from Izmir Economy University said the interceptor missile was “most likely” fired from a U.S. Warship stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Egeli, who specializes in weapons of mass destruction, air and missile defense, and nuclear deterrence, offered the following assessment as to why NATO forces intervened:
“The national systems forming the long-range-high-altitude tier of Iron Dome are not yet considered sufficient in inventory. When available in the right place at the right time, they can prevent it. But their ranges and effective altitudes are not unlimited.”
“Even if the S-400s, which theoretically have the ability to intercept ballistic missiles, were used, it would be almost impossible to detect and stop such a long-range ballistic missile without early warning data.”
