Colonel Martin O'Donnell, spokesperson for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, said the heightened defensive readiness status would remain in place until the threat from Iran’s continued attacks across the region subsides. He said NATO forces identified the missile, confirmed its trajectory, alerted land- and sea-based defense systems, and launched an interceptor in less than 10 minutes. The announcement came after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance did not intend to invoke Article 5, the bloc’s mutual defense clause, over the strike, signaling an effort to strengthen defenses without formally escalating NATO’s involvement in the U.S.-Iran conflict.