The missile shot down by NATO air defense systems near Turkish airspace was not heading toward Turkey but toward Cyprus, a Turkish official told AFP, according to Telegram channel "Voice of Turkey."

"It was aimed at a military base in southern Cyprus but veered off course," he stated.

This information was confirmed to "Voice of Turkey" by senior sources in Ankara.

Turkey's Defense Ministry said the missile flew over Iraq and Syria before being intercepted by NATO air defense and missile defense systems deployed in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed his concern to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in a phone call following the incident. Ankara also lodged a protest with the Iranian ambassador, who was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in connection with the incident.