Amid the crisis surrounding Iran, Turkey may deploy F-16 fighter jets to the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). This was reported by the newspaper „Türkiye“, citing sources in the country's Defense Ministry.
Officials in Ankara have neither confirmed nor denied this information.
The Iranian crisis is on the agenda of an informal meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Turkic States in Istanbul on Saturday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced earlier.
Cyprus has been divided since Turkey invaded the island in 1974, triggered by a coup d'état by supporters of Greek annexation. In 1983, the TRNC was formed in the northern part of the island, internationally recognized only by Ankara. The southern part of the island remains under the control of the Republic of Cyprus, which is inhabited mainly by Greek Cypriots.