NATO ‘prepared’ to defend allies amid report of Iranian strike plans

NATO says it is prepared to address threats over possible Iranian attacks on United States military targets in Europe as Bulgaria has increased security measures at the Bezmer Air Base.

“NATO is prepared to address any threat and will always do what is necessary to defend all Allies,” a NATO official said in a statement on Wednesday.

The unnamed official also said NATO intercepted four ballistic missiles Iran launched towards Turkiye this year, offering it as proof the military alliance’s “deterrence defence posture is strong and effective” against outside threats.

The remarks were in response to a Financial Times article that said Iran has considered carrying out attacks against US military locations across Europe.

The reported Iranian plans will be met with concern in southeastern Europe, where some nations have military installations that support US operations.

Bulgaria’s parliament approved the use of the Bezmer Air Base as a refuelling station for US military planes in July and allowed about 250 US military personnel to be stationed there until October.

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev told the country’s BTA news agency that Bulgaria had taken “all possible measures” at the base in coordination with the Ministry of Defence. He said the measures were designed to address a threat level higher than currently indicated by security services.

“We are constantly monitoring the situation and developments and will continue to take precautionary measures that are far more extensive and intensive than the level of threat indicated by the information available at the moment,” he said.