Iran Reportedly Attempts Missile Strike on NATO Base Hosting 20 to 50 US Nuclear Bombs in Türkiye

Iran reportedly attempted to strike NATO’s Incirlik Air Base in southern Türkiye with ballistic missiles, according to multiple open-source intelligence (OSINT) channels on March 13.

Footage circulating on social media appears to show an unidentified ballistic missile flying over the area near the base, following reports of air raid sirens and loud explosions in several towns surrounding the installation.

The incident has not yet been officially confirmed by Turkish authorities, and information about the event currently comes primarily from OSINT monitoring accounts and local media reports.

According to the Turkish outlet Karar, Iran reportedly launched two to three ballistic missiles toward the Incirlik base during the early hours of March 13.

Residents in the nearby city of Adana shared videos online showing a bright object moving through the night sky shortly after air raid sirens sounded across the area.

Reports suggest the event occurred at approximately 3:25 a.m. local time. Witnesses said they heard a loud explosion moments after the alarm.

State-run Turkish media Anadolu reportedly indicated in a subscriber bulletin that two ballistic missiles aimed at Türkiye were intercepted by NATO air defense systems, though this information has not been publicly confirmed in an official government statement.

As of now, it remains unclear whether the missiles were intercepted or if any impact occurred near the base.

Incirlik Air Base, located near the city of Adana in southern Türkiye, is one of NATO’s most important military installations in the region.

The base hosts Turkish Air Force units as well as US and allied forces, including aircraft involved in intelligence, logistics, and aerial refueling missions supporting operations across the Middle East.

The installation has long been considered strategically sensitive because US nuclear weapons are believed to be stored there under NATO nuclear-sharing arrangements.

Estimates from defense analysts suggest the base may hold between 20 and 50 US B61 nuclear bombs.

If the reports are accurate, the missiles would have traveled roughly 800 kilometers to reach the area around Incirlik.

Iranian ballistic missile systems capable of such ranges include the Qiam-1 and Shahab-3, which are designed for long-distance strikes across the region.

The missiles could theoretically reach southern Türkiye either directly from Iranian territory or by flying across Iraqi and Syrian airspace.

Earlier, reports emerged that Russia provided Iran with drone warfare tactics developed during the war against Ukraine, helping Iranian forces improve their ability to penetrate air defense systems in the Middle East.

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