Politics
NATO Patriot defense system deployed in eastern Türkiye, ministry says
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.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call Tuesday with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi following a recent missile incident involving Turkish airspace, according to Foreign Ministry sources.
During the call, Fidan stressed that any violation of Turkish airspace was unacceptable and said Ankara would continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its security.
He also urged all parties to avoid actions that could undermine regional security or pose risks to civilians, sources said.
Araghchi told Fidan that the missiles detected heading toward Turkish airspace were not launched by Iran and said a comprehensive investigation into the incident would be carried out.
The conversation came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and growing security concerns following recent missile activity near Türkiye’s borders.
Last week, 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.
In a written statement, the Defense Ministry said the ballistic munition was detected after passing through Iraqi and Syrian airspace and was engaged in time before posing a direct threat to Turkish territory.
Debris found in the Dörtyol district of Hatay province was identified as belonging to air defense munitions used during the interception, the ministry noted.
Türkiye on Monday said it shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran that entered Turkish airspace, which was neutralized by NATO air and missile defence assets, in the second such incident in five days.
Turkish authorities detained 13 suspects in Istanbul on suspicion of carrying out activities linked to the Daesh terrorist group and spreading propaganda through social media, officials said Tuesday.
The operation was carried out by counterterrorism and intelligence units of the Istanbul police under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office as part of efforts to disrupt and expose the terrorist group’s activities.
Authorities said investigators identified the suspects and their addresses after determining they were involved in activities linked to Daesh and were allegedly disseminating propaganda through social media platforms.
Police conducted simultaneous raids at the identified locations, detaining 13 suspects who were later taken to police headquarters for questioning.
In a separate operation in the southern province of Gaziantep, security forces arrested a foreign national suspected of links to the group.
The Gaziantep Provincial Gendarmerie Command carried out the operation in coordination with prosecutors and with support from counterterrorism units. Officials said the suspect, identified by the initials A.S., had entered Türkiye illegally and was believed to have been preparing to carry out a terrorist attack.
Investigators determined that the suspect had been active as an armed member of the Daesh between 2015 and 2017 in the Aleppo region of Syria.
The suspect was captured in the Nurdağı district, and digital materials seized during a search of the residence were confiscated for examination.
Following questioning, the suspect was referred to court and later jailed pending trial, authorities said.
Türkiye considers the Daesh terrorist group one of the biggest threats to the country’s security and peace, as the group faces nationwide raids, and was one of the first countries to declare it a terrorist group in 2013.
Officials said counterterrorism operations targeting Daesh networks and financing structures will continue across the country.
NATO-member Türkiye on Monday said it 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,” it said in a statement.
Some fragments from the weaponry fell in open territory in the southern Gaziantep area, causing no injuries, the ministry added.
Monday’s incident follows last week’s interception in Türkiye’s southern border region. Since the US-Israeli attacks began on Feb. 28, Iran has fired missiles and drones at several countries across the region.
Türkiye’s Presidential Communications Director said officials have deployed all security measures while urging restraint.
“Türkiye strongly reiterates warning to all parties, namely Iran, to avoid steps endangering regional security and civilians,” Burhanettin Duran said in a statement on X.
Hours earlier on Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed Iran has not launched attacks against Türkiye, Azerbaijan or the Greek Cypriot administration, maintaining Tehran’s initial rejection of targeting neighboring and “friendly” Türkiye.
The New York Times, citing U.S. military officials, reported last week that the projectile may have been aimed at the key NATO air base in Incirlik.
Türkiye has largely remained neutral in the war with Iran. However, U.S. troops are stationed in the country. The NATO air base is located in Incirlik in the southern Turkish province of Adana.
According to U.S. figures, around 1,500 military personnel are stationed there. The base is considered an important military hub in the region.
The U.S. embassy in Ankara on Monday said Washington has advised non-essential staff to leave its consulate in Adana and ordered U.S. citizens to leave “southeast Türkiye.”
NATO has since said it strengthened its “ballistic missile defence posture” as Iran steps up its strikes across the region.
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the missile was spotted by Spanish troops manning a Patriot missile battery, who are based at Incirlik.
They had “detected and reported the missile attack”, though they were not the ones that shot it down, she said.
Türkiye has issued necessary warnings to Iran, but Tehran continues to take “wrong steps” despite those warnings, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday, while stressing Ankara’s priority is to keep the country out of the conflict.
Speaking at a news conference after a Cabinet meeting, Erdoğan said Türkiye has closely followed developments surrounding the Iran conflict and has communicated its concerns directly.
“Necessary warnings were issued to Iran. Despite these warnings, it continues to take the wrong steps,” Erdoğan said.
He reiterated that Ankara’s primary objective is to prevent Türkiye from being drawn into the war, while continuing to advocate diplomacy.
“As in other wars, Türkiye stands on the side of justice and supports resolving conflicts through dialogue,” Erdoğan said.
The president also emphasized Türkiye’s defense capabilities, saying the country has the capacity to respond to threats targeting its security and sovereignty.
“The Republic of Türkiye is strong and capable in every field. It has the capacity to repel any attack and break the dirty hands targeting its survival,” he said.
Erdoğan’s remarks came after Türkiye shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran, in the second such incident in five days.
‘Israel taking advantage of shifting global attention to sabotage 2-state solution’
Later on Monday, Erdoğan told a meeting with ambassadors that Israel is seeking to completely sabotage the path to a two-state solution by taking advantage of the global community’s attention shifting away from Gaza.
The president said that while humanitarian aid deliveries face difficulties, Israel continues to “terrorize the people of Gaza with systematic attacks.”
On continued U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, he stressed that Türkiye does not accept the Middle East being subjected again to intervention “just as it was a century ago, or being laid back on the operating table.”
“Last week and today, ballistic elements heading toward Türkiye were neutralized in time, and the necessary warning was conveyed very clearly to the Iranian side,” Erdoğan added.
He reiterated that the war must end as quickly as possible to prevent it from spreading further in the region, adding that further adventurism will cost not just the warring parties, but the region and even the entire world, including Europe and Asia.
An honorable solution can be found for every problem that threatens regional stability and the future, said Erdoğan, and a new negotiation process is possible.
Türkiye and the European Union held a high-level virtual meeting to discuss the escalating conflict involving Iran and rising tensions across the Middle East, bringing together senior officials from both sides to exchange assessments and coordinate diplomatic efforts.
The session brought together Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with representatives from other regional countries.
In a statement shared on his NSosyal account after the meeting, Yılmaz said the talks focused on assessing the humanitarian and geopolitical impacts of the conflict, which carries a significant risk of spilling over across the region.
Yılmaz said Türkiye’s main objective remains the swift end of hostilities to protect regional stability, peace and global economic prosperity.
“We condemn attacks targeting third countries as well, and we continue our diplomatic efforts multilaterally to bring the conflicts to an end,” Yılmaz said.
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military officials.
Iran retaliated with barrages targeting U.S. bases, diplomatic facilities, and military personnel in the region.
A total of eight U.S. service members have been killed amid the ongoing conflict.
Turkish authorities detained 36 suspects as part of an expanding corruption investigation linked to the former mayor of the Mediterranean district of Manavgat, Antalya, authorities said Tuesday.
The Manavgat Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating allegations including forming a criminal organization, bribery, embezzlement, extortion, bid rigging and laundering assets derived from criminal activities.
Those detained in early morning raids carried out by gendarmerie units include a former deputy mayor, a municipal construction inspection chief, municipal employees, contractors and hotel owners, according to investigators.
The probe centers on activities during the tenure of former Republican People’s Party (CHP) Manavgat Mayor Şükrü Sözen, who was previously arrested along with his brother, Fatih Sözen, and several others in connection with the same case.
Prosecutors said evidence gathered in the investigation includes witness testimonies, statements from suspects cooperating with authorities, financial intelligence reports prepared by Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) and digital communications seized during searches.
Investigators allege that several businesspeople and tourism sector figures paid bribes to obtain permits or legalize buildings that violated zoning regulations or construction plans. Payments were allegedly made directly, through intermediaries or via companies created to facilitate the transactions.
Authorities also suspect that some properties given as bribes were transferred through intermediaries before ending up in the hands of suspects without payment.
Expert reports cited by prosecutors suggest that certain public tenders were repeatedly awarded to specific companies in exchange for benefits, causing significant public financial losses.
The investigation further alleges that assets obtained through the scheme were used to purchase luxury vehicles, real estate and commercial properties registered under the names of third parties in an effort to conceal their origin.
Prosecutors said the investigation remains ongoing and additional legal proceedings may follow as authorities examine the financial records and testimonies gathered during the probe.
Former Mayor Şükrü Sözen and his brother were arrested on Sept. 11 on charges of bribery, embezzlement and bid rigging. During searches of their homes, investigators reportedly seized large amounts of cash and jewelry. Five other suspects were also arrested earlier in connection with the same investigation.
Meanwhile, in a separate corruption case involving the municipality, prosecutors have prepared an indictment against 41 defendants – 11 of whom remain in custody – including Niyazi Nefi Kara, another former Manavgat mayor who was previously detained and suspended from duty.
Kara, his nephew and others were arrested on charges of bribery, corruption and malversation. Police seized 3 kilograms (6.61 pounds) of gold bullion, 500,000 euros and $153,160 that his nephew had hidden at an agricultural warehouse.
The main opposition CHP is under mounting scrutiny as a wave of corruption, bribery and terrorism-related investigations sweeps across its municipalities.
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