Cyprus Issues Air Safety Alert, Greek Fighter Jets Scramble in Response

Xinhua News Agency, Athens, March 4 (Reporter Chen Gang) Nicosia reports: According to the Cyprus National Broadcasting Corporation, Cyprus issued an air safety alert on the morning of the 4th due to a suspicious flying object moving towards Cyprus. Greek Air Force fighter jets took off urgently from a military base within Cyprus to respond.

The report stated that the alert was triggered around 9:30 AM local time on the 4th. For safety reasons, staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus were moved to underground areas.

Two Greek Air Force F-16 fighter jets took off from the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, western Cyprus, to intercept the relevant flying object before it entered Cypriot airspace.

At around 10 AM local time, the alert was lifted. Staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus then resumed normal operations.

Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis stated on the social media platform X that a suspicious target was detected in airspace near Lebanon. As a precaution, relevant departments in Cyprus have taken all necessary measures to investigate and will respond appropriately if necessary, with the results of the incident to be announced in due course.

According to Iranian media reports, Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Jabari accused the U.S. of expanding its military presence in Cyprus on the 2nd and warned that it would strengthen missile strikes against Cyprus.

According to the Cyprus Mail, at the request of Cyprus, France has expressed its readiness to deploy missile defense and anti-drone systems to Cyprus and send frigates to the Eastern Mediterranean region. The Greek Ministry of Defense has dispatched 4 F-16 fighter jets and two frigates to Cyprus.