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NATO Intercepts Iranian Missile Targeting Turkey's Air Base

3/5/2026

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NATO Intercepts Iranian Missile

A ballistic missile from Iran was intercepted by NATO defenses in the eastern Mediterranean while aimed at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base.
The missile traveled over Iraq and Syria and was shot down by a U.S. Navy SM-3 interceptor before midnight EST on March 3, 2026.
U.S. officials confirmed Incirlik Air Base was the intended target.
Turkey said it will not permit airspace to be used for attacks on Iran.

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NATO Defends Turkey

U.S. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated NATO's Article 5 mutual defense provision is unlikely to be activated.
On February 28, 2026, smoke rose from interceptions of Iranian projectiles over Abu Dhabi.
Turkish officials reported on March 4, 2026, that NATO's defense system destroyed an Iranian missile aimed at Turkey.
Burhanettin Duran, Turkey's head of communications, confirmed the incident on X after the missile was detected over Iraqi and Syrian airspace.

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NATO Intercepts Iranian Missile

A ballistic missile from Iran was intercepted by NATO defenses in the eastern Mediterranean while aimed at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base.
The missile traveled over Iraq and Syria and was shot down by a U.S. Navy SM-3 interceptor before midnight EST on March 3, 2026.
U.S. officials confirmed Incirlik Air Base was the intended target.
Turkey said it will not permit airspace to be used for attacks on Iran.

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