A ballistic missile launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace has been neutralized by NATO defense assets deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey ‘s Defense Ministry said on March 9, 2026.
It is the second time in less than a week that an Iranian ballistic missile has been targeting Turkey or just the Incirlic Air Base used by the US in the country’s South-West.
The ministry said debris from the munition fell onto vacant land in the southeastern city of Gaziantep, but no casualties or injuries were reported.
Below is the area where the first Iranian ballistic missile was downed on March 4.
“Türkiye places great importance on good neighborly relations and regional stability,” the ministry said in a statement. “However, once again we emphasize that all necessary measures will be taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country’s territory and airspace.”
The incident follows a similar event on March 4, when another munition fired from Iran toward Turkish airspace was intercepted by NATO defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean after being detected traveling across Iraqi and Syrian airspace toward Türkiye.
Defense authorities said on March 5 that Türkiye “reserves the right to respond to hostile actions regardless of their origin.”
Turkey could invoke Article 5 of NATO but it did not do it so far.
Iran’s armed forces denied firing any missile toward Turkish territory, saying in a statement carried by state media that Tehran respects Türkiye’s sovereignty, hurriyet.com reported.
Despite the escalation, Türkiye has so far avoided direct strikes, even though U.S. troops are stationed at several bases in the country.
One of the most prominent is İncirlik Air Base, a key NATO facility located about 10 kilometers outside the southern city of Adana and used by U.S. forces for decades.
On Monday morning, Washington advised non-essential personnel to leave its consulate near Adana and urged U.S. citizens to depart southeastern Türkiye, according to a March 9 notice from the U.S. embassy in Ankara.
pictures of Missile on March 9: sabah.com.tr, hurriyet.com.gr
