Greece Sends Warships to Cyprus

The initial attack on the Akrotiri base involved a Shahed-type drone striking a runway shortly after midnight on March 2, 2026, causing minimal damage. A second attempt followed hours later with two more drones, which were successfully intercepted. No casualties were reported from either incident, but the attacks prompted the evacuation of non-essential personnel and nearby residents. This marks the first attack by a third country on Cypriot soil since Turkey's invasion in 1974. The drone strikes are widely believed to be the work of Iran or its proxies, possibly in retaliation for U.S. operations conducted from British bases in Cyprus. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also reportedly threatened to target the island with ballistic missiles. The "Joint Defence Doctrine" between Greece and Cyprus was established in the 1990s. Its activation marks a significant policy shift from symbolic deterrence to active defense, treating any attack on Cyprus as a direct threat to Greece. This is the first time the doctrine has been fully activated in a real-world crisis. In response, Greece dispatched the advanced FDI HN frigate Kimon, capable of long-range air defense, and the MEKO-class frigate Psara, which is equipped with a Greek-made anti-drone system. These naval assets are accompanied by four F-16 Viper fighter jets now stationed at the "A. Papandreou" airbase in Cyprus. The Greek deployment is part of a broader European response. France is sending a frigate and air defense systems, while Germany has also committed to dispatching a warship to the region. The United Kingdom is deploying the HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, and helicopters to protect its sovereign base area.