Turkey says NATO defences downed fourth inbound Iranian missile


FILE PHOTO: Turkish army personnel search a field after a piece of ammunition fell following the interception of a missile launched from Iran by a NATO air defence system, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Sertac Kayar/File Photo

ANKARA, March ⁠30 (Reuters) - A ballistic missile ⁠launched from Iran entered Turkish ‌airspace before being shot down by NATO air and missile defences deployed ​in the eastern Mediterranean, ⁠Turkey's defence ministry ⁠said on Monday.

The incident marked ⁠the fourth ‌such incident since the start of ⁠the U.S.-Iraeli war with Iran, following ​three ‌earlier interceptions by NATO systems ⁠earlier this ​month that promptedAnkara to protest and warn Tehran.

Tehran has ⁠denied in the previous ​three incidents that it authorised such launches and has asked Ankara ⁠to form a joint investigation into the matter.

The ministry said all necessary measures were being ​taken "decisively and without ⁠hesitation" against any threat directed ​at Turkey's territory ‌and airspace.

(Reporting by ​Ece Toksabay and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan Spicer )

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