NATO Air Defense Downed Iranian Ballistic Missile Entering Turkish Airspace

JAKARTA - The Turkish government said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defense system shot down a ballistic missile launched from Iran that had entered the country's airspace and vowed to take "all necessary measures" against threats to its land and air space.

The missile, "was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense assets deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean," the Ankara Defense Ministry said in a statement, launching The National (9/3).

Debris from the intercepted missile landed in "empty land" in Turkey's southeastern Gaziantep Province and there were no casualties or injuries, the statement said.

It was the second time in a week that NATO forces have shot down a ballistic missile that appears to be targeting Turkey.

Previously, NATO defenses also shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran while heading for Turkish airspace last Wednesday.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense said the missile had passed through Iraq and Syria before being shot down by NATO air and missile defense systems deployed in the eastern Mediterranean.

A day later, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the situation did not provide an immediate reason to activate the NATO Article 5 collective defense clause.

It is known that Article 5 of the NATO alliance stipulates that an attack on one member of the alliance is an attack on all other members.

NATO member Turkey warned on Saturday against firing more missiles in its direction.

Turkey reiterated that it would take all necessary measures to defend its territory and airspace resolutely without hesitation.