NATO shoots down Iranian missile headed for Turkey, marking a first direct blow to a member state
A U.S. Navy destroyer intercepted and destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile on a path toward Turkish airspace using an SM-3 interceptor, with debris landing in Hatay’s Dortyol district. The interception, supported by NATO air defenses, drew condemnations from Turkey and NATO but did not trigger Article 5 and reportedly caused no casualties. The missile’s exact target remains unclear amid speculation it could have been aimed at a facility in Cyprus; analysts note Iran’s decentralized Mosaic doctrine may have allowed autonomous actions by regional units.
