NATO destroys missile flying over Turkish airspace from Iran, as French intercepts drone in Gulf

NATO air and missile defence systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean destroyed a ballistic missile fired from Iran as it headed into Turkish airspace, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The incident marks the first time that NATO member Turkey, Iran's neighbour to the northwest, has been drawn into the expanding conflict between Iran and the US and Israel that now involves several countries in the region.

The drone had passed through Syria and Iraq before entering Turkish airspace, according to authorities, with no casualties.

"We warn all parties to refrain from actions that would lead to further escalation of conflict in the region. In this context, we will continue to consult with NATO and our other allies," the ministry said.

"All necessary steps to defend our territory and airspace will be taken resolutely and without hesitation. We remind all parties that we reserve the right to respond to any hostile actions against our country," it added.

Two other initial statements by senior Turkish officials about the incident did not mention NATO's Article 4, which states that allies will "consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security" of a member is threatened.

Some commentators have suggested that Iran has not yet targeted Turkey, due to its membership in NATO and how this could trigger intervention of other members.

Ankara said debris from the air defence missile that intercepted the ballistic missile fell in the Dortyol district of Hatay province in southeastern Turkey. 

Earlier on Wednesday, French Rafale fighter jets neutralised Iranian drones targeting the UAE, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.

France has deployed fighter jets over UAE skies to protect its military assets in the country, after a French naval base was targeted by an Iranian projectile.

Iran has also targeted a UK base on Cyprus, but the British government has yet to send aircraft to the Gulf to intervene in the conflict.