Türkiye said Tuesday that a Patriot air defense system has been deployed to the eastern province of Malatya under NATO cooperation to strengthen the country’s airspace protection amid heightened regional tensions.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) remain fully committed to safeguarding the country and its citizens, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“Necessary measures are being taken for the security of our borders and airspace, and consultations are ongoing with NATO and our allies,” the ministry said.
According to the statement, NATO has increased air and missile defense measures in addition to national steps taken by Türkiye.
“As part of these measures, a Patriot system assigned to support the protection of our airspace is being deployed in Malatya,” the ministry said.
Türkiye will continue to assess developments in coordination with NATO allies while maintaining its defense and security capacity at the highest level and working toward regional peace and stability, the ministry also noted.
Separately, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler held a phone call Monday with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Affairs Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani.
During the call, the two officials exchanged views on bilateral and regional defense and security issues, the ministry said in a statement posted on social media.
The discussions come as Ankara intensifies consultations with regional partners amid ongoing security concerns in the wider Middle East.
On March 4, a ballistic projectile fired from Iran and heading toward Turkish airspace was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry announced.
On March 9, NATO-member Türkiye said it also shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran, in the second such incident five days.
"A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defence assets in the Eastern Mediterranean," the Defense Ministry announced in a statement.
Some fragments from the weaponry fell in open territory in the southern Gaziantep area, causing no injuries, the ministry added.
The developments came amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, launched on Feb. 28, which have so far killed more than 1,000 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel further expanded its heavy bombardment of Iran overnight Sunday, carrying out waves of strikes on civilian infrastructure, including fuel depots near Tehran, as fighting escalated on day 10 of the U.S.-Israeli campaign.
Lebanon was also drawn into the Middle East war last week, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of the Iranian supreme leader during U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Moreover, Türkiye has deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as part of a phased plan aimed at strengthening the territory’s security, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced Monday.
In a written statement, the ministry said the deployment began Monday and was carried out in response to recent developments in the region.
“Within the framework of phased planning aimed at increasing the security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in light of recent developments in our region, six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems have been deployed to the TRNC starting today,” the ministry noted.
The statement added that additional measures could be taken depending on further assessments of developments in the region.
“Following evaluations to be made in line with developments, additional measures will continue to be taken if necessary,” it said.
The development comes amid the rising tensions in the Middle East and growing military cooperation between the Greek Cypriot administration and its Western partners.
On the other hand, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler are expected to brief lawmakers at Parliament on Tuesday about U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East and measures taken by Ankara in response, according to parliamentary sources.
The briefing will take place during Tuesday’s General Assembly session, where the ministers are expected to outline the latest developments in the Middle East, including the risk of the conflict spreading and its potential impact on regional security.
