Türkiye Says Ballistic Munition Launched from Iran Neutralized

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Defense announced on Monday that a ballistic munition launched from Iran was successfully neutralized by NATO air and missile defense forces deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In an official statement titled “Statement on the Neutralization of Ballistic Munition,” the ministry said the projectile was detected and intercepted after being launched from Iran, preventing it from reaching its intended target.

The ministry did not provide further operational details but emphasized that the interception reflects the readiness and effectiveness of Türkiye’s air defense systems in countering aerial threats amid heightened regional tensions.

Authorities did not report any casualties or damage resulting from the incident.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of increasing missile and drone activity across the region, raising concerns over a potential escalation and its implications for regional stability.

A member of the US-led defence alliance, Turkey, which borders Iran, has been largely spared the sort of retaliation from Tehran suffered by countries in the Middle East.

Long critical of both Iran and Israel, Ankara has sought to avoid being dragged into the war, sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

"Preventing our country from being dragged into this inferno is our number one priority," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had declared.

Iran's embassy in Turkey has denied that Tehran was behind the four missiles fired at Turkish airspace, and has offered to set up a joint team to investigate the incidents.

Despite that overture, Ankara announced last week that NATO would deploy a new Patriot air-defence battery at southern Turkey's Incirlik military base, which hosts US forces.

This article was updated by Kurdistan24 on March 30, 2026, at 7:39 pm.