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Greece is sending two frigates and two F-16 fighter jets to Greek Cyprus after an Iranian drone hit the runway of a British air force base earlier Monday, the Greek Defense Ministry said.
“The frigate Kimon is being immediately dispatched” to Greek Cyprus, “accompanied by a second frigate ... and a pair of F-16 fighter jets,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that Greece would assist Greek Cyprus in “countering threats and illegal actions on its territory.”
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias also indicated that he will travel to Greek Cyprus on Tuesday.
Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides said Sunday that the Iranian drone crashed at a British RAF base in Cyprus.
The incident followed remarks by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirming that Britain had agreed to a U.S. request to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes.
A British sovereign base in Cyprus was evacuated Monday after sirens sounded, an AFP correspondent reported.
About 70 cars were seen leaving the Akrotiri base area on the southern coast of the Mediterranean island, the correspondent said, adding that most bore civilian license plates.
In addition to British and other military personnel, the base also houses civilians working there.
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Meanwhile, two drones heading toward a British base in Cyprus were intercepted Monday, a Cyprus government spokesman said.
“Two unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) heading toward the British Bases in Akrotiri were dealt with in a timely manner,” spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis posted on X.
An airport in western Cyprus and the area around a British base were also evacuated Monday, the Cypriot Interior Ministry said, following drone threats over the Mediterranean island.
“Following information received from the National Guard, instructions were issued for the evacuation of the Akrotiri Municipal District and Paphos Airport,” the ministry said on X.
The evacuations came after two drones headed toward the Akrotiri base were intercepted earlier Monday.
The developments come amid escalating regional tensions after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran responded with a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, U.S. assets and several Gulf countries.
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