Turkey shot down an Iranian ballistic missile that crossed Iraqi and Syrian airspace before entering Turkish airspace on Wednesday, as the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran entered its fifth consecutive day of strikes with no signs of abating.
Turkey's Ministry of National Defence confirmed that a NATO air and missile defence system deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean intercepted and destroyed the projectile before it could cause any damage. A debris fragment from the interceptor missile landed in the Dörtyol district of Hatay province, with no casualties reported.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan subsequently contacted his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to convey Ankara's strong protest over the incident and to urge all parties to refrain from escalatory steps. The Turkish Defence Ministry issued a firm warning that Ankara reserves the right to respond to any hostile act and that all necessary measures would be taken without hesitation to defend Turkish territory and airspace.
NATO's spokesperson Allison Hart condemned Iran's targeting of Turkey and affirmed the Alliance's full solidarity with its member states. "NATO's deterrence posture, including air and missile defence, remains strong," Hart said.
Turkey's Directorate of Communications head Burhanettin Duran called on all parties to avoid actions that could widen the conflict, stressing that Ankara is pursuing intensive diplomatic efforts under President Erdogan's leadership for a ceasefire and a peaceful settlement of the crisis.
The incident came as Iran continued to fire missiles and drones at targets across the region despite suffering close to two thousand strikes by US and Israeli forces since the campaign began on Saturday. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi accused US President Donald Trump of "bombing the negotiating table out of spite" and betraying both diplomacy and the American voters who elected him. He noted that a third round of Iran-US nuclear talks in Geneva had ended without tangible results just days before the attack was launched.
Meanwhile, the Iranian destroyer Dena was sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka following what Reuters reported as a submarine attack. Three US officials confirmed to the news agency that the American military carried out the strike. The vessel, which had been returning from a joint naval exercise in India, carried a crew of 180. Sri Lankan naval and air forces rescued at least 32 wounded sailors, while the fate of dozens more remained unclear. One survivor was later reported to have died in hospital.
In Tehran, massive explosions rocked the eastern districts of the capital overnight, including the Sorkheh Hesar area and the Qasr-e Firouzeh residential complex, home to Iranian Air Force families. Iranian media reported at least nine successive blasts, with further strikes reported at dawn in Isfahan and Kermanshah.
The Israeli military said it had struck dozens of facilities linked to Iran's Law Enforcement Forces and the Basij paramilitary organisation across Tehran. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning that any successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — killed in the opening hours of Saturday's strikes — would also be targeted. The funeral ceremony for Khamenei, initially scheduled for Wednesday evening at Tehran's Mosalla mosque, was postponed due to the anticipated scale of public attendance.
Inside Iran, the Assembly of Experts was under reported pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late leader, as the next Supreme Leader. Assembly member Ahmad Khatami told state television that a decision was imminent, though no official announcement had been made.
On the diplomatic front, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez publicly rejected Trump's threats to cut all trade ties with Madrid over its refusal to allow US forces to use Spanish bases for strikes against Iran. Sanchez reiterated his government's position as simply "No to war," drawing parallels with the 2003 Iraq war and warning against repeating what he called past mistakes. Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry said it had intercepted two cruise missiles, while a drone attack on the major Ras Tanura refinery was also thwarted.
Oil prices continued to climb, with Brent crude trading above $83.70 per barrel — a rise of more than 2.3 percent — driven by maritime traffic restrictions and the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.