Brussels: NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) announced Thursday that the ballistic missile defense posture will remain at "heightened level" until Iran's retaliatory attacks across the region subside. "I can confirm that yesterday, in addition to NATO's successful intercept of a ballistic missile from Iran that targeted Trkiye, which that nation was the first to announce, NATO increased its Alliance-wide ballistic missile defence posture," Martin L. O'Donnell, spokesperson for SHAPE, said in a written statement.

According to Anadolu Agency, O'Donnell noted that the action was taken by the commander of NATO's Air Command, "who further recommended NATO's ballistic missile defence posture remain at this heightened level until the threat from Iran's continued indiscriminate attacks across the region subsides." The statement emphasized that while operational security prevents revealing details about the posture change, the adjustment provides the Supreme Allied Commander Europe with the necessary means to defend the Alliance against the current threat.

The statement followed an announcement by the Turkish National Defense Ministry on Wednesday that a ballistic munition fired from Iran and directed toward Turkish airspace was intercepted and neutralized by NATO air and missile defense units in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The context of these developments includes an ongoing large-scale offensive by Israel and the US on Iran, which began on February 28, resulting in over 900 casualties, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials. In retaliation, Iran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.