NATO intercepted a second Iranian missile heading into Turkish airspace

According to local media, Greek fighters carried out several air patrols and on Wednesday they shot down two drones that were approaching the island.

European forces reinforce security in Cyprus

Faced with increased regional tensions, several European countries have also reinforced their military presence near

Cyprus.

Among them are France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, which sent warships to ensure the security of the island, a member of the European Union.

An island divided since 1974

Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, when the Turkish army invaded the north of the island after a coup d'etat driven by the military junta that ruled

Greece at the time.

The coup sought the union of Cyprus with Greece, which led to the military intervention of Turkey.

Since then, the island has been separated into two parts:

• the Republic of Cyprus, with a Greek Cypriot majority and a member of the European Union

,

• the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with a Turkish Cypriot majority and recognized only by Turkey

Ankara, maintains tens of thousands of soldiers in the north of the island, making Cyprus one of the most sensitive geopolitical points in

the eastern Mediterranean.

Greece also deployed fighters to the island

. Turkish military reinforcement came after Greece sent four F-16 fighters to the Paphos air base, in western Cyprus

.

The Greek deployment was a response to an attack with Iranian drones launched from Lebanon against the British airbase of Akrotiri.

The attack caused minor damage to the airstrip, leaving no casualties.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran heading into Turkish airspace.

The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed that the projectile was neutralized by defense systems deployed in the Mediterranean.

As reported by the Ankara government, the wreckage of the missile fell in an uninhabited area in the Gaziantep region, in the south of the country, without causing casualties or injuries.

In an official statement, the ministry warned that Turkey will take all necessary measures to defend its territory.

“Turkey attaches great importance to neighborhood relations and regional stability. However, we will take all necessary measures against any threat directed to our territory and our airspace,” said the Defense Ministry

.

Second missile intercepted in less than a week

This is the second Iranian missile intercepted in less than a week by NATO defense systems

.

Last Wednesday, another ballistic missile launched from Iran was also destroyed before entering Turkish airspace.

After that incident, the secretary general of the alliance, Mark Rutte, ruled out invoking Article 5 of the founding treaty of NATO, which states that an attack against one of its members is considered an attack against all.

Turkey reinforces its military presence in Cyprus

In parallel with the incident, Turkey announced the deployment of six F-16 fighters and air defense systems in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of

Northern Cyprus.

This entity is only officially recognized by Ankara.

The Turkish Defense Ministry explained that the measure seeks to strengthen security on the island in the face of growing tension in the Middle East.

The warplanes will be deployed immediately and the Turkish government does not rule out taking new military measures if the regional situation deteriorates.