Turkey Says NATO Defences Destroyed Incoming Missile from Iran Turkey said on Friday that its NATO-backed air defences had destroyed an incoming missile fired from Iran over the Mediterranean, a move that could escalate tensions between Ankara and Tehran. The incident came as regional rivalries simmer just below the surface in the Middle East. The Turkish Ministry of Defence announced in a statement that a "hostile" missile had been detected over the Mediterranean Sea, heading towards Turkish airspace. According to Ankara, NATO's air defence systems had quickly taken control of the situation and destroyed the projectile before it could pose any danger to Turkey or its allies. Iranian officials have not yet commented on the alleged incident. However, Tehran has in the past protested Turkey's involvement in regional conflicts and its perceived alignment with Western powers like the United States and NATO. Turkey's claims of shooting down an Iranian missile come as tensions between Ankara and Tehran continue to simmer over a range of issues, from Syria to energy policy. The two nations have long been rivals for influence in the Middle East, with Turkey backing opposition groups in Iran and Iran supporting Turkey's Kurdish minority. NATO has been involved in the region since 2011, when it intervened in Libya to support rebels seeking to topple Moammar Gaddafi. Since then, NATO has maintained a presence in the Mediterranean, citing concerns over terrorism and regional stability. The incident is likely to heighten concerns about military tensions between Turkey and Iran, which have a long history of mutual distrust. In 2018, Turkish fighter jets intercepted an Iranian passenger plane that had strayed into Turkish ...#iran #united_states #nato #turkey #mediterranean_sea #syria #libya #moammar_gaddafi #kurdish_minority
