Eight Greek fighter jets F16 escorted two US bombers B-52 within the FIR of Athens and Nicosia on Wednesday, the Greek General Staff announced. The escort took place at the request USEUCOM, the US European Command.
The two strategic bombers were accompanied by four pairs of F-16 aircraft during their HOOK flight exercise.
The escort of the B-52’s by Greek fighter jets is taking place for the second time in less than a month, after the previous one took place on August 28, 2020, within the NATO operation “ALLIED SKY.”
The F-16’s escorted the B-52’s within the FIR Athens and Nicosia with a route over Epirus, Macedonia, northern Sporades, Cyclades, Dodecanese and western Cyprus, where British fighter jets took over.
During their return, the B-52 ‘s were again escorted by Greek F-16’s in the route over the Dodecanese, northern Crete, Peloponnese and Ionian Islands, until they left Athens FIR.
According to a statement issued by the Greek General Staff “the invitation and participation of Greece in Operation HOOK demonstrates the strategic relationship between Greece and the United States, which is constantly being upgraded with the implementation of joint training and joint missions, including by US special role aircraft.”
The continuous presence of units and means of the Greek Armed Forces in the Eastern Mediterranean proves the possibilities of carrying out multiple missions in our general area of interest, the statement added.
