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Türkiye warned Greece after reported Greek military activities in the Eastern Aegean, saying Athens is violating the demilitarized status of islands under the 1923 Lausanne and 1947 Paris peace treaties.
"Greece's initiatives that violate the status of islands contrary to duly concluded treaties both create illegality and damage our neighbourhood and allied relations," the Ministry of National Defense stated at a weekly press briefing on Thursday.
"We do not accept Greece's initiatives that do not serve the real purpose and aim to turn crises in our region into opportunities," the statement added.
Türkiye has also deployed a NATO Patriot missile defense system to Malatya and stationed six F-16 fighter jets along with air defense systems in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as the spillover from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran continued to reach Turkish territory.
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Ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk confirmed that a Patriot system assigned by NATO's Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) in Ramstein, Germany, was being deployed to Malatya as a complementary element of Türkiye's air defense architecture.
Akturk said a second Iranian ballistic missile was intercepted on March 9 after entering Turkish airspace, with debris falling onto vacant land in both Gaziantep and Diyarbakir, the first confirmation that fragments also reached Diyarbakir.
No casualties or injuries were reported in either location.
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The disclosure meant Iranian missiles had now produced debris in three Turkish provinces, Hatay, Gaziantep and Diyarbakir, since the conflict began.
"To ensure the security of our airspace and citizens, in addition to national-level measures, consultation mechanisms with NATO allies have been effectively activated," the ministry said.
Akturk stated that combat aircraft were conducting air patrols to secure Turkish airspace and prevent potential violations following the U.S.-Israeli and Iranian conflict.
In the Eastern Mediterranean, naval and air assets were carrying out navigation, reconnaissance and surveillance operations.
"Along the Iranian border, measures against potential risks and threats were being taken in coordination with relevant state institutions, with no unusual buildup or movement detected," he said.
The ministry said six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems had been stationed in Turkish Cyprus as part of phased planning to bolster security against missile and drone threats stemming from the regional conflict.
"The security of the TRNC and the preservation of peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean are of strategic importance to Türkiye, and our position on this is clear and unchanging," the ministry said.
It added that the measures would contribute to the security of not only Turkish Cyprus but the entire island.
"Türkiye is a Guarantor state in Cyprus. In an environment where some non-guarantor countries are sending military elements to the island of Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, the measures taken by Türkiye are the requirement of an entirely legitimate, appropriate and balanced security approach," the statement noted.
"We are sufficient for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The security of the TRNC is our security," the ministry added.
On the Incirlik air base in Adana, the ministry stated firmly "Incirlik is a Turkish base." It operates under the 10th Main Jet Base Command, which reports to Türkiye's Combat Air Force Command, in Eskisehir.
"The presence of American soldiers there does not mean it is an American base. Spanish, Polish and Qatari military personnel are also stationed there," the ministry said.
The ministry also addressed the non-use of S-400 systems, saying Türkiye's air and missile defense operates within a multilayered structure. When a ballistic missile is detected, "the system automatically selects and fires the most appropriate and fastest interception asset" due to the very short response time available, the ministry said.
The ministry called for an immediate end to hostilities causing civilian casualties and emphasized the importance of achieving a lasting ceasefire.
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