Athens Sends Air and Naval Cover to Cyprus as Drone Threats Grow

Greek media reported that the deployment, cleared through Athens’ security council process, includes the frigate Kímon, a second MEKO class frigate expected to carry the Greek built Kéntavros counter drone system, and two F 16 fighter jets assigned to reinforce air surveillance around the island. Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias is expected in Nicosia for coordination.

Embassy notices and U.S. drone warning sharpen the civilian picture

In a public message, the Embassy of Greece in Cyprus asked Greek citizens currently on the island to submit their contact details through an online form so the mission can maintain an updated contact list amid fast moving regional developments. The same notice said flights between Cyprus and Greece were operating normally.

The U.S. State Department’s TravelGov account also warned that there was information about a possible drone threat to the Paphos region, urging U.S. citizens to stay alert and advising them not to come to the embassy unless in an emergency.

Mitsotakis convenes crisis call with Greek missions in Cyprus, Iran, and the Middle East

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a videoconference with the heads of Greek embassies and consulates in Cyprus, Iran, and the wider Middle East, according to a government briefing note.

The briefing said Mitsotakis was updated on what it described as an extremely difficult situation on the ground and stressed that the government’s first priority is the security and support of Greek citizens in the region. It added that officials reviewed repatriation plans intended for implementation once air traffic is restored and conditions on the ground allow.

Israel embassy messaging in Greece points to Europe range framing

Separately, Israel in Greece, the official X account of the Embassy of Israel in Athens, circulated a graphic stating that the threat from Iran is not limited to Israel and nearby states, and that the range of Iranian ballistic missiles extends into Europe. The map presentation placed Türkiye, Greece and Cyprus inside the depicted reach arcs.

Nicosia signals anger over British bases and cites two UAVs near Akrotiri

The heightened posture is also feeding into politics around the United Kingdom’s sovereign base areas on the island. Cyprus Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis expressed strong dissatisfaction over the military use of British bases, citing a lack of prior warning for citizens before drone strikes and saying Nicosia “excludes nothing” as it reviews its options.

In a subsequent comment, Letymbiotis said two unmanned aerial vehicles moving toward the British Bases at Akrotiri were confronted in time.