Türkiye’s state news agency Anadolu reported that sirens were heard early Friday at Incirlik Air Base, a key NATO facility where US troops are stationed.Residents of Adana, about 10 kilometers from the base, woke up at about 3.25 a.m. local time (0025 GMT) as sirens continued to sound for about five minutes.
According to news agency AP, footage circulated on social media showed thick plumes of smoke in the sky, with several users sharing photos of a glowing object that suggested it could be a missile headed towards the airbase.A red alert was issued at the facility and sirens of fire engines and security forces were heard across the city.The incident came just four days after NATO air defense forces shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran in Turkish airspace, the second such interception in five days.
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NATO had earlier intercepted a missile on March 4, following which Turkey issued a stern warning to Tehran against “provocative steps”.The latest increase comes amid ongoing US-Israeli military operations against Iran, which have sparked attacks across the Middle East. While Turkey remained largely unscathed, the threat to Incirlik has raised concerns, especially since US B61 nuclear bombs are believed to be stored at the base.Washington also closed its consulate in Adana, urging all US citizens to leave southeastern Türkiye amid security concerns.In addition to Incirlik, US troops are deployed at Kurecik air base in central Turkey, where the Patriot missile defense system was deployed on Tuesday as part of NATO precautionary measures.