Greek Warships And F-16s Heading To Cyprus, FM Dendias Confirms

Greek National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias announced on Monday afternoon that, following a meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA), the frigate Kimon and a second frigate equipped with the “Kentauros” anti-drone system are being dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The deployment includes a pair of F-16 fighter jets to bolster the Republic’s air defence capabilities. Dendias, who confirmed that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been in direct contact with President Nikos Christodoulides, stated that Greece will contribute to the defence of Cyprus “throughout the duration of the crisis.”

The military intervention by Athens follows a series of critical escalations on Monday, including the mandatory evacuation of Akrotiri village and the total evacuation of the British Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), which was expanded to include Dhekelia. The deployment of the “Kentauros” system is of particular strategic significance as authorities in Cyprus continue to manage “live air threats,” including the drone sighting that forced the evacuation of Paphos International Airport.

Dendias and the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff are scheduled to arrive in Cyprus on Tuesday to coordinate with local commanders.

Source: In-Cyprus