NATO - THE TARGET OF THE IRANIAN MISSILE WAS TURKEY - THE CLAIM OF A TURKISH OFFICIAL THAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR A 'BASE IN CYPRUS' IS DENIED - Filenews 4/3
The target of the ballistic missile launched by Iran and shot down while crossing the airspace of Iraq and Syria was Turkey, NATO said. The report in question refutes the claims of an unnamed Turkish official that a base in Cyprus was targeted.
Specifically, the well-known journalist Michael Weiss in a post on X, citing a US military source, stated that the missile was headed for the US Instirlik air base in Turkey and was shot down by US forces in the Mediterranean.
Debris of the NATO missile fell in an open area in southern Turkey's Hatay province, causing no injuries or damage, the ministry added. This is the first attack to target the territory of a NATO ally. Iran had avoided attacking its neighbour Turkey until now.
The U.S. maintains a major military base in southern Turkey, Incirlik, a facility it shares with the Turkish military.
Earlier, a Turkish official, quoted by france24, made the unsubstantiated claim that the missile that was neutralized by NATO anti-aircraft missiles in the direction of Turkey was aimed at a base in Cyprus.
"Turkey was 'not the target' of a missile launched from Iran and headed towards Turkish airspace, but it was destroyed by NATO's air defense systems," a Turkish official said.
"We believe he was targeting a base in Cyprus, but deviated from his course," said the official, who requested anonymity.
At the same time, Al Jazeera reports that Turkey is protesting to Iran about launching a missile into the airspace.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan protested to Iran over the launch of a ballistic missile into Turkish airspace, according to the Anadolu news agency.
Fidan made the comments during a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Araghci, telling him that any steps that could lead to the spread of the conflict should be avoided. Turkey's Defense Ministry had earlier said NATO defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran, adding that the downed missile fell over Turkey's Dortiol region, near the Mediterranean, without causing casualties.
