An alert was declared in Cyprus at around 9:30 this morning due to the detection of a suspicious flying object aimed at the territory of the country, the Cypriot publication “Filelefteros“ reported, quoted by BTA.
The object was in the airspace near Lebanon, said the spokesman for the Cypriot government, Konstantinos Lethimbiotis. Two Greek F-16 fighter jets based in Cyprus were scrambled to intercept the object.
The airspace over Cyprus's largest international airport in Larnaca was closed due to the alert, Reuters reported, citing a government source.
As reported by the Cypriot radio and television RIC, an alert was declared at the US embassy in Nicosia, where staff were taken to shelters as a precaution. Shortly before 10 a.m., the alert was lifted and embassy staff returned to their workplaces.
Earlier today, the State Department allowed embassy employees whose duties are not related to its core functions to leave Cyprus with their families.
The situation in Cyprus is tense after a drone struck the British Akrotiri air base on the island on Monday. According to the KNA, the drone was launched from Lebanon, and more specifically from the Iranian-affiliated Lebanese group “Hezbollah“.
Dozens of flights have been canceled to and from the airports in Larnaca and Paphos, and some airlines have completely suspended flights to the Mediterranean island.
Greece has sent two frigates and F-16 aircraft to Cyprus to strengthen the country's security. France and Britain are also sending forces with anti-drone capabilities.