India, March 4 -- A ballistic missile fired from Iran and headed toward Turkish airspace was intercepted and destroyed by NATO air and missile defence systems over the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, the missile was detected after it crossed Iraqi and Syrian airspace before being neutralised at sea.

No casualties or damage were reported.

A NATO member and majority Sunni-Muslim nation, Turkey shares a 500-kilometre border with Iran. Until now, Ankara had largely avoided being directly drawn into the hostilities, even as Tehran targeted Israel, Iraq, Jordan and Gulf states hosting US bases.

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