Iran war divides a Turkish town known for its NATO base

Adrian Ghobrial reports from Adana, Turkiye, as Ramadan prayers, protests, and air raid sirens mark a week of escalating war across the Middle East.

ADANA, Turkiye -- Since the 1950s, the city of Adana in southern Turkiye has been home to Incirlik Air Base, a strategic NATO location that’s had an American air force presence for decades.

The base has also been a lightning rod for protests in recent years. Clashes with local police have broken out during the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Most recently, protesters have shown up at the airbase to voice their displeasure about the current war in Iran that’s now spread across the region.

On Wednesday, the conflict arrived on the eastern Mediterranean shores of southern Turkiye, when NATO forces shot down an Iranian ballistic missile as it headed into Turkish airspace.

On the outskirts of Adana, CTV News met a group of elders sitting around a table, sharing their passionate opinions of the escalating war in the Middle East.

“Why are we spending this money on war, when we could be spending it on helping people? Children are dying, families are being killed, it makes no sense,” said retiree Hasan Erdogan.

To his right at the table, a different opinion is shared. “The U.S. and Israel brought this war to Iran.” said Abdul Rachman. “And any country that is home to a U.S. military base, Iran has the right to defend itself and fire upon that base.”

Prayer beads in hand, the discussion becomes heated when it turns to the Incirlik Air Base. Some believe that the NATO base has turned into an American air base.

When asked if they worry about their city being dragged into this war after a ballistic missile was fired in their direction this week, again opinions are divided.

Some don’t believe Iran would ever have intended to shoot a missile at neighbouring Turkiye.

Others aren’t so sure. “Of course we’re worried, what happens if the missile hit the city, we could have a massacre on our hands.” said Mehmet Hanifi Kaya.

Southern Turkiye also borders both Syria and Iraq. There are multiple neighbourhoods in Adana that are home to communities of refugees who know the toll of regional wars in the Middle East all too well.

Eleven-year-old Faud told us he wants to grow up to be a police officer and his 12-year-old friend Hassan dreams of being a singer.

Both of their families fled war in Syria. They said it feels like danger has followed them since the day they were born.

“We are worried when we see this new war, because it feels like everyone is dying,” said young Faud.

Being back at home in Syria is never too far from their imagination.

“That country is our country, when all these wars end,we will return home,” said a hopeful Hassan.

Back at the roundtable discussion, Hasan Erdogan shared his concerns for future generations in a region that lacks stability.

“We are worried.” says Erdogan. “The war is feeding the rich. The powerful are having their way, while people die.”