ANKARA, March 4 (Reuters) – NATO air and missile defence systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean destroyed a ballistic missile fired from Iran as it headed into Turkish airspace after passing Syria and Iraq, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
The incident marks the first time that NATO member Turkey, Iran’s neighbour to the northwest, has been drawn into the expanding conflict between Iran and the U.S. and Israel that now involves several countries in the region.
“We warn all parties to refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation of conflict in the region. In this context, we will continue to consult with NATO and our other allies,” the ministry said, adding there were no casualties or injuries.
“All necessary steps to defend our territory and airspace will be taken resolutely and without hesitation. We remind all parties that we reserve the right to respond to any hostile actions against our country,” it added.
Two other initial statements by senior Turkish officials about the incident did not mention NATO’s Article 4, which states that allies will “consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security” of a member is threatened.
Ankara said debris from the air defence missile that intercepted the ballistic missile fell in the Dortyol district of Hatay province in southeastern Turkey.
(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu: Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer )
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