NEWS

Turkey to use airport in occupied Cyprus as base for F-16s ‘if necessary,’ says report

Turkey to use airport in occupied Cyprus as base for F-16s ‘if necessary,’ says report

Ankara is mulling over the possibility of using an airport on Turkish-occupied Cyprus as a base for F-16 fighter jets, reports said Wednesday, a move that would further stoke tension with Athens and Nicosia.

A report in the pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper said that the airport would be used by the country’s F-16s “if necessary.”

On Friday, the breakaway Turkish Cypriot cabinet designated the Gecitkale airport (also known as Lefkoniko) as a base for both unarmed and armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the request of the Turkish government.

A drone meant to help seek hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean landed at the airport on Monday.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.

By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.