By Bosphorus News Defense Desk
Greece activated its DELTA Rapid-Reaction Force with troops in the field during the nationwide ALEXANDROS-26 exercise, adding a live readiness test to an eight-day command-post drill.
The Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS) said ALEXANDROS-26 ran from September 25 to October 2 across Greece. The Army, Navy and Air Force took part alongside the Special Warfare Command, security services and civilian agencies.
The exercise was formally conducted as a Tactical Exercise Without Troops, focused on command, control and crisis procedures. HNDGS also activated the DELTA force to test reaction times, with readiness assessed both within the staff exercise and on an actual basis through a Tactical Exercise With Troops.
Aegean, fleet, air and Thrace commands tested
Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Gen. Dimitrios Choupis visited the National Operations Center and the operations centers of the Supreme Military Command of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, Fleet Headquarters, Tactical Air Force Headquarters and the Supreme Military Command of Thrace.
HNDGS did not identify Türkiye as the target or name an adversary. It described the drill as operational training to test crisis management and military readiness.
ALEXANDROS-26 began on September 25, the final day of Türkiye's Denizkurdu-I/2026 naval exercise across the Black Sea, Marmara Sea, Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. September 25 was also the start of a Turkish NOTAM activity window across the Aegean that Greece had rejected with a counter-NOTAM. HNDGS did not connect ALEXANDROS-26 to either development.
Greek defense reporting cites island-reinforcement missions
Defence Review reported additional operational details. It said Special Warfare Command units deployed to the eastern Aegean for pre-emptive deployment missions, reinforcement of island garrisons and recapture of national territory.
The outlet also reported amphibious, air-mobile and airborne deployments to small Aegean islands, activation of rapid-response units in Thrace and nationwide activation of air-defense units under Tactical Air Force Headquarters.
HNDGS has not publicly used the terms island recapture or recapture of national territory in connection with ALEXANDROS-26. Its account confirms the DELTA activation, participation of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean command structure and live troop readiness testing.
The island-reinforcement and recapture scenarios come from Greek defense reporting, not the General Staff's public account.
Sources: Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Defence Review, Bosphorus News review and reporting.