Turkey deploys six F-16 fighter jets to northern Cyprus

ANKARA -  Turkey plans to deploy six F-16 fighter jets to northern Cyprus on Monday to bolster the defences of the Turkish community there, broadcaster NTV said, citing a civil aviation official from the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

On Saturday, a Turkish defence ministry source said Turkey was considering the deployment of F-16 aircraft to Cyprus, among other steps being taken to ensure the security  of the Turkish Cypriot state as conflict spreads in the region. 

The decision comes on the heels of heightened tensions in the region, particularly following a series of incidents involving Cyprus. Last week, Iran launched two missiles that were reportedly aimed at British bases on the island, though they fell short and landed in the sea. Additionally, a Hezbollah drone strike targeted a British base in southern Cyprus, prompting concerns about the island's vulnerability to spillover from the broader Middle East conflict involving Israel, Iran, and their proxies.

Turkey's defense ministry source had indicated on Saturday that the deployment was under consideration as one of several measures to safeguard the TRNC, which Turkey views as a sovereign entity. The TRNC, established after Turkey's 1974 invasion of Cyprus in response to a Greek-backed coup, is recognized only by Ankara. The rest of the international community considers it occupied territory, with the Republic of Cyprus (the southern, Greek Cypriot-led part) being an EU member state.

This move follows Greece's recent deployment of four F-16 jets to Paphos in southern Cyprus, along with two frigates, as a show of support amid the regional unrest. Greece and Cyprus have expressed concerns over Turkish actions, viewing them as escalatory in a long-divided island where UN peacekeeping forces have maintained a buffer zone for decades.

The deployment risks exacerbating tensions between NATO allies Turkey and Greece, who have a history of disputes over airspace, maritime boundaries, and energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean. Analysts warn that this could lead to a direct airpower standoff, with comparable forces now positioned on opposite sides of the island. While Turkey frames the action as purely defensive, critics argue it could be a prelude to further militarization.