NATO intercepts Turkey-bound missile as Pentagon claims imminent control of Iran airspace

A ballistic munition fired from Iran that was detected heading toward Turkish airspace was intercepted by NATO defense systems, Turkish authorities said on Wednesday, as the war continues to expand across the region.

The Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement that there were no casualties from the debris of the intercepted munition, which fell in Turkey’s southern province of Hatay.

The war pitting Israel and the United States against Iran has entered its fifth day. Israel said on Wednesday it had launched a wave of attacks targeting key infrastructure in Tehran, including the headquarters of Iran’s cyber operations, intelligence directorate and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Meanwhile, an Iranian frigate was sunk by the US Navy off the coast of Sri Lanka, a US official confirmed to Al-Monitor. Around 101 Iranian sailors remain missing while 79 others were rescued by Sri Lanka’s navy, according to a Reuters report.

The war has also rattled energy and shipping markets. On Wednesday, QatarEnergy declared a force majeure, allowing it to suspend LNG and related shipments, while global shipping giant Maersk paused most cargo bookings to and from the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

In Lebanon on Wednesday, Israeli forces entered the southern border town of Khiam while the military issued an evacuation order for all residents of south Lebanon to move beyond the Litani River as it intensifies its strikes against Hezbollah targets.

Almost 84,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since the Israel-Hezbollah escalation began on Monday and Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 72 people, according to Lebanese authorities.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The US military said six Americans have died in the conflict, while Israeli authorities reported at least 11 fatalities.