Yesterday, Iran once again launched a ballistic missile towards Turkey. It was reported that the ballistic missile launched from Iran was neutralized by the NATO air and missile defense system deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean. After the threat was neutralized in the air, missile fragments fell on empty areas in Gaziantep. Fortunately, there were no deaths or injuries as a result of the incident.
It should be recalled that Iran had previously launched a ballistic missile towards Turkey on March 4. That missile, directed at Turkish airspace, was also shot down by NATO forces.
In a statement to Modern.az, British political scientist Neil Watson stated that he believes Iran did not intentionally target Turkey:
“Frankly, I do not believe that Iran is intentionally acting against Turkey or trying to start a war against Turkey. Currently, Iran is in a very unstable and complex situation. We see this against the backdrop of an ongoing real military confrontation with the US and Israel. The country's supreme leader has been killed. In such situations, there is always the possibility of human error. We do not know the specific target of this missile, but I am absolutely certain that its target was not Turkey itself.”
According to the political scientist, however, the main issue here is Turkey once again firmly asserting its position:
“Turkey once again emphasizes that it will take action against any force attempting to interfere with its airspace or sovereign territory. In my opinion, what is currently happening shows that Turkey has reacted very harshly and decisively to this incident, and this is entirely justified. Turkey has the right to act in this manner. It has the right to defend itself both militarily and through political statements.
However, I do not believe that it is in Iran's interest to pose a serious threat to Turkey, especially at this moment... Iran currently needs friends and connections. It does not need to start wars with other countries. Iran is already facing a war waged against it by the US and Israel. In this situation, it is not logical for Iran to make Turkey an enemy.”
