site.btaBulgarian Security Services Hold Emergency Meeting Following Iranian Missile Incident in Turkiye

Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry Wednesday hosted a high-level meeting of the country’s security services, in response to a recent ballistic missile launch by Iran toward Turkiye that was intercepted by NATO air defence, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said.

While Prime Minister Andrey Gurov is expected to convene the Security Council with the Council of Ministers - a move previously announced by the Defence Minister - the new development is the joint assessment conducted Wednesday at the Ministry of Defence. The meeting brought together senior military leadership, the Defence Staff, commanders of the Land Forces, Joint Forces Command, Air Force, Military Intelligence, Military Police, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Zapryanov, the session evaluated the risks and readiness of the Armed Forces to respond to threats, in coordinated actions within NATO frameworks.

Changes to the readiness levels of units responsible for national air defence were also discussed.

"The missile launch against a NATO member state represents a dangerous escalation," the Defence Minister said, stressing that such unprovoked attacks, including one against Cyprus, demonstrate that the Iranian regime disregards international norms and who participates or not in the ongoing military operation.

Zapryanov informed that a report from the Wednesday meeting will be submitted to the Prime Minister ahead of the Security Council session. The Council is expected to consider specific proposals aimed at maintaining peace, public safety, and the protection of Bulgaria’s territory.

The Defence Minister also said that NATO exercises and planned activities across the Alliance will continue as scheduled. "Iran will not intimidate us into halting the strengthening of NATO’s defence capabilities and the reinforced presence on the Eastern flank," he added.

He emphasized that the incident demonstrates NATO remains the most reliable guarantor of the security of Bulgaria’s territory.