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REUTERS/ MIRIAM SELA-EITAM/ March 9, 2026
Turkey on Monday deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to northern Cyprus to boost the security of the Turkish community there amid the war in Iran, the defense ministry said, adding that Ankara would take additional measures if needed.
European powers have moved to ramp up military deployments to the ethnically split island in recent days, after an Iranian drone, which security officials believe was fired by Hezbollah, an ally of Iran in Lebanon, hit the British Akrotiri air base in Cyprus last week.
« In the context of the latest developments in our region, six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems have been deployed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as of today, » the ministry said in a statement, adding that this was part of the phased planning to strengthen the breakaway state’s security.