Air alert over Cyprus triggers fighter jet scramble
An air security alert was raised on Wednesday morning after information emerged about a suspicious object heading towards Cyprus, prompting precautionary measures at the United States embassy in Nicosia and the scrambling of Greek fighter jets.
According to information broadcast by CyBC, the alert was triggered at around 9.30am.
Staff at the United States embassy were taken to the basement as a precaution, while Greek F-16s were called into action to intercept the object.
According to Greek media reports, two F-16s took off from the Andreas Papandreou base in Paphos, and proceeded to intercept two unmanned drones before they entered Cypriot airspace.
The alert was lifted shortly before 10am.
Embassy staff returned to their duties, and residents across the capital reported seeing Greek fighter jets in the air over Nicosia.
Information from the Greek intelligence service indicated that the suspicious object was believed to be moving towards Cypriot airspace.
Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said a potential threat had been identified beyond the island.
“A possible suspicious object was detected in the airspace near Lebanon,” he wrote on X. “For precautionary reasons, all appropriate measures were taken by the competent authorities to investigate and, if necessary, deal with the incident. Further information will follow on the outcome.”
No further details were immediately available, and authorities did not report any impact on civilian aviation or public safety in Cyprus.