Ankara: Ankara confirmed on Monday that a second ballistic missile fired from Iran was intercepted by NATO defences in Turkish airspace, amid heightened regional tensions and security warnings from Washington.

The US embassy in Turkey announced the closure of its consulate in Adana and advised non-essential staff to leave. The State Department also urged all American citizens in southeast Turkey to depart immediately due to safety concerns.

The missile, launched from Iran, was neutralised over the eastern Mediterranean by NATO air and missile defence assets, Turkey’s defence ministry said. Some fragments landed in open territory near Gaziantep, approximately 200 kilometres east of Adana, with no injuries reported.

This is the second missile intercepted in five days, following a similar strike on March 4. NATO has strengthened its ballistic missile defence posture in the region in response to escalating Iranian strikes targeting US and allied assets across the Middle East.

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The missile was detected by Spanish troops operating a Patriot missile battery at the Incirlik airbase, a key NATO facility located just 10 kilometres outside Adana. While they reported the attack, they were not involved in the interception.

Presidential communications chief Burhanettin Duran warned Iran to avoid actions that could endanger regional security and civilian lives.

The escalation comes amid ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iranian targets, with Tehran retaliating through missile and drone strikes across the region. Turkey, which hosts several US bases including Incirlik, has so far largely avoided direct hits.