Daijiworld Media Network - Ankara

Ankara, Mar 13: The Turkish Defence Ministry announced on Friday that a ballistic munition fired from Iran entering Turkish airspace was successfully intercepted. NATO air and missile defence elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean neutralized the threat, the ministry said in a statement.

“All necessary precautions are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country's territory and airspace,” the ministry added, noting that regional developments are being closely monitored with national security as a priority.

The incident triggered sirens at Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, and videos on social media appeared to show the missile’s arrival followed by an explosion, according to reports cited by Xinhua from Turkey’s semi-official Anadolu Agency.

This marks the third ballistic munition launched from Iran toward Turkey in recent days. In response, Iranian Ambassador in Ankara Mohammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh suggested the attack may have been carried out by “third elements” aiming to damage the friendly relations between the two countries.

Earlier this week, Turkey deployed a Patriot air defence system in the eastern province of Malatya, assigned by NATO to support the country’s airspace and prepared for operational readiness.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the importance of diplomacy to prevent the conflict from escalating. Speaking in parliament, he said, “This war must be stopped before it grows and throws the entire region into flames. If diplomacy is given a chance, it is entirely possible to achieve this.” Erdogan added that Ankara is actively working to return to negotiations and taking precautions against attempts to fuel sectarian conflict and other destabilizing actions in the region.