Major General Tomer Bar, commander of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), has held a series of discreet meetings with senior air force officers from Greece and Cyprus to address the shifting security architecture in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to reports from the Israeli broadcaster KAN News on Wednesday, the discussions focused on strengthening strategic ties and coordinating responses to Turkish threats.
ראש בראש עם הטורקים: מפקד חיל האוויר נפגש עם מקביליו בקפריסין ויוון | @ItayBlumental עם הפרטים על הביקור החריג, בפרסום ראשון#מהדורתכאןחדשות עם @mayarachlin pic.twitter.com/mn6zANFhRI
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) December 16, 2025
Countering Turkey
This development follows an earlier report this week by Ta Nea, which stated that the three countries are exploring the creation of a joint rapid reaction force, involving soldiers from their respective militaries.
By aligning their air forces, the partners aim to create a unified “detection and deterrence” architecture that can protect critical infrastructure, such as the Great Sea Interconnector subsea cable, from potential sabotage or coercive interference.
Diplomatic opposition
In Cyprus, opposition parties have expressed concern that such close military integration with Israel—especially during the war in Gaza—could draw the island into a broader regional confrontation.
(File photo)
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