March 3, 2026 – As the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran expands—with retaliatory Iranian drone strikes now reaching European soil—Greece has activated precautionary military measures to protect national interests and support ally Cyprus.
A Patriot air-defense battery is being transferred to the island of Karpathos in the coming hours. This preventive deployment aims to enhance Greece’s air defense posture in the region, amid heightened alerts across the Eastern Mediterranean following the outbreak of broader conflict.
Simultaneously, the Hellenic Navy’s advanced Belharra-class frigate “Kimon”—on its maiden operational mission—sailed toward Cyprus, accompanied by the frigate “Psara” (equipped with anti-drone systems). Four F-16 fighter jets from the Hellenic Air Force are already stationed at the “Andreas Papandreou” air base in Paphos, strengthening the island’s air defenses.
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, accompanied by Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Houpis, arrived in Nicosia on Tuesday, March 3, for high-level consultations. Dendias confirmed ongoing direct communication with Cypriot Defence Minister Vassilis Palmas over the past days, following Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ phone call with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
“Following unprovoked attacks on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, Greece will contribute in every possible way to its defense,” Dendias stated, emphasizing solidarity against threats and illegal actions targeting the island.
The moves follow Iranian-made Shahed drones striking the British sovereign base at RAF Akrotiri overnight on March 1-2, causing limited damage but no casualties. Cypriot sources attribute the attack to launches from Lebanon (likely Hezbollah-linked), underscoring the conflict’s spillover risks—even to NATO/EU territories.
These deployments reflect Greece’s commitment to regional stability, close Hellenic-Cypriot ties, and readiness amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. No specific threats to other Greek sites (e.g., Souda Bay in Crete) have been confirmed, but vigilance remains high.
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