Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkey is expected to deploy four F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus on Sunday, according to information received by the Cyprus Mail. The reported deployment comes as several countries have sent military assets to the island amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Reported Turkish deployment
According to competent sources, the aircraft will be deployed to the north’s Ercan (Tymbou) airport. Reports of the fighter jets’ arrival were also published in Yeniduzen newspaper.
The report follows an incident last Monday in which Cyprus was hit by an Iranian-made drone.
Greek, French, Italian, Spanish and UK assets
Since then, multiple countries have deployed military assets to Cyprus. Greece was the first, deploying four F-16 fighter jets to Paphos on Monday evening.
Those jets were followed by two frigates, including the Kimon, which Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described on Wednesday as the “pride of the Greek fleet”.
France then deployed the Languedoc frigate, which arrived in Cypriot waters on Wednesday, while the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is on its way.
Italy announced its intention to send the Federico Martinego frigate to Cyprus, and Spain is to send the Cristobal Colon frigate.
The United Kingdom, which operates the air force base in Cyprus hit by last Monday’s drone, has sent two AW159 Wildcat helicopters armed with anti-drone missiles to the island, while the HMS Dragon Type 45 destroyer is expected to depart Portsmouth next week.
Greece-Turkey relations and Cyprus
The reported deployment of Turkish fighter jets comes as Greece and Turkey appear to be moving toward alignment regarding Cyprus’ role in the conflict.
After the Greek F-16s arrived on Monday, Turkey lodged no protest. Turkey’s defence ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk said a delegation from the Greek air force will visit Turkey next Monday “within the framework of bilateral relations and regional developments”, describing the planned visit as a “confidence-building measure”.
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