American forces are now manning a new radar defense site in Turkey that could help defend Europe from a potential Iranian ballistic missile attack, the U.S. Army's commander in Europe said.

"We have the forces in place ... at a radar site in southern Turkey," Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said in an interview at Montenegro's main military airport in its capital, Today’s Zaman reported.

It is the first time a senior US commander has confirmed reports that the NATO defense shield radar - which has caused tensions between Turkey and its Muslim neighbor Iran - has been operational in the past few weeks. The radar is a key element in a planned ballistic missile defense system that also would put other land- and sea-based radars and anti-missile interceptors in several European locations over the next decade.

"I can only speak for the ground base air defense units," Hertling said. "But I will tell you that we make constant coordination (with the US Navy and Air Force), and I think we are well on track to conduct missile defense."