Nato confirmed the incident, the second in Turkish airspace in five days, and stressed its readiness “to defend all allies against any threat”.
Since the US-Israeli attacks began on February 28, Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes across the Middle East in a bid to hit US assets.
So far, Turkiye appears to have been spared, despite US troops being stationed at several of its bases, one of which is the Incirlik airbase which lies just outside the southern city of Adana.
But on Monday, the US embassy in Turkiye said it had closed its consulate in Adana and advised non-essential staff to leave, with the State Department urging all US citizens to leave the southeast.
“On March 9, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency US government employees and US government employee family members to leave Consulate General Adana due to the safety risks,” the embassy said on X.
Barely an hour later, Turkiye’s defence ministry confirmed another ballistic missile fired from Iran had been intercepted in Turkish airspace by Nato defence systems in the second such incident in five days.
“A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralised by Nato air and missile defence assets in the eastern Mediterranean,” it said in a statement, which was also confirmed by the military alliance.
“Nato has again intercepted a missile heading to Turkiye. Nato stands firm in its readiness to defend all Allies against any threat,” spokeswoman Allison Hart said on X.
Incirlik air base is an important Nato facility that has been used by US troops for decades which is located just 10 kilometres outside Adana. (AFP)
Edited by Priscilla Ng
