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NATO forces on Monday intercepted a second Iranian missile headed into Turkey’s airspace, marking another escalation of regional turmoil sparked by the joint U.S.-Israeli war against Tehran.
The missile was shot down by NATO assets in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to Turkey’s defense ministry. There were no casualties in the incident, which marks the second time in five days Iran has targeted a NATO member.
“We once again emphasise that all necessary measures will be taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country’s territory and airspace,” the Turkish defense ministry said. “We also reiterate that it is in everyone’s interest to heed Turkey’s warnings in this regard.”
U.S. air forces are stationed at the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey. NATO holds a radar base in Malatya province to the northeast.
The latest incident comes after NATO forces last Wednesday said they shot down an Iranian ballistic missile headed into Turkish airspace, a notable event as it marked the first time a NATO member has been drawn into the expanding Middle East conflict. According to NATO Article 5, an armed attack on one NATO member is deemed an attack on the entire alliance, committing members to assist the attacked party. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said following the incident last week, which similarly resulted in no casualties, that he had “no sense” the attack would “trigger anything like Article 5.”
On Monday, the State Department raised its travel advisory alert for southeast Turkey to Level 4 — “do not travel.” The travel advisory for Turkey remains at Level 2 — “exercise increased caution.”
The war against Iran was launched on Feb. 28, after the United States said talks with the country aimed at resolving concerns about its nuclear weapons program had stalled. Washington expects the war to last four to six weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday. Seven U.S. service members have been killed in the conflict.
“Operation Epic Fury” has so far killed Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, decimated much of the country’s navy fleet, and eliminated large swaths of its senior military leadership. The U.S. and Israel decided to strike Tehran after being told by Iranian leadership that it had enough enriched uranium to make 11 nuclear bombs, according to President Donald Trump’s team.