NATO not involved in Iran strikes, boosts air defence readiness - MoD

NATO is not involved in the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran but has raised air and missile defence readiness across its Eastern Flank, Bulgaria’s acting Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said on Tuesday.

He confirmed that NATO’s missile defence posture had been elevated to its highest level, with air defence (AD) and missile defence (MD) systems in Eastern Flank countries being placed on increased readiness.

Mr Zapryanov stressed that neither NATO nor its eastern members are participating in the operation against Iran.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the 3rd Fighter Air Base at Graf Ignatievo, he noted that Greece had redeployed a Patriot air defence battery to provide coverage for Bulgarian airspace too.

He added that Bulgaria’s air policing mission at Graf Ignatievo is integrated into NATO’s wider air and missile defence system, contributing to the security of the Alliance’s eastern flank.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov