The North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Wednesday shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran and headed toward Turkish airspace, marking the first time the alliance stepped in to defend a member state since the US and Israel began attacking Tehran last week.

Even as things continue to unfold in Iran, the stage looks set for the next chapter in the Turkish-Israeli contest.

Turkey intercepted a ballistic missile from Iran using NATO's air defenses, marking its first involvement in the growing Middle East conflict. NATO condemned Iran's actions, affirming its support for Turkey.

As the likelihood of a U.S. attack on Iran rises, Israeli leaders are increasingly focusing on Turkey as a new regional rival and threat, Turkey’s Daily Sabah wrote on Wednesday.