NATO declares it is "prepared to protect" its members’ territories after Iranian ballistic missiles violated Turkish airspace. On Monday, Ankara reported shooting down a second missile within a week in southeastern Türkiye.

NATO forces have twice intercepted Iranian missiles targeting Türkiye in under a week, amid US-Israeli attacks on Iran escalating tensions across the broader Middle East region.

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT

Last Wednesday, Türkiye’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the interception of an Iranian ballistic missile approaching Turkish airspace near the border with Syria.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart affirmed the incident, stating, “NATO remains resolute in its commitment to defend all Allies against any threats”.

NATO officials noted there is currently no evidence that Türkiye is initiating formal alliance procedures against Iran in response.

Nonetheless, the Turkish authorities summoned Iran’s ambassador in Ankara to deliver an official protest regarding the event.

The US maintains a military presence at the Incirlik airbase located in southern Türkiye.

«NATO possesses robust interception systems,» Colonel Martin O’Donnell, spokesperson for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, told Euronews, explaining that Iran is «targeting US positions across multiple countries» while also attacking civilian locations «without distinction».

Despite stepping up its security measures to a heightened level as the threat continues, O’Donnell emphasized NATO’s stance that it is not directly involved in the conflict, although the US, the alliance’s dominant member, is engaged.

«The Secretary General has made it clear that NATO is not participating in this war, but will defend itself if necessary,» he explained in an interview at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Monday.