The airspace of Cyprus was temporary closed on Wednesday morning, after a suspicious object identified as an unmanned UAV was detected close to the Lebanese airspace.
Greek F-16s stationed in Cyprus took off for the drone recognition.
Νέος συναγερμός για πιθανό ύποπτο αντικείμενο- Απογειώθηκαν τα ελληνικά f-16 pic.twitter.com/fkme86Aop4
— Sigmalive (@Sigmalivecom) March 4, 2026
According to Greek state broadcaster ERT at 11:04, the flight of the F-16s continues and the fighter jets will keep on patrolling the Cyprus airspace.
Video released by the Hellenic Air Force when the F-16s are taking off:
Η Ελλάδα στο πλευρό της Κύπρου 🇬🇷🇨🇾
Προσγείωση μαχητικών αεροσκαφών #F16V στην αεροπορική βάση της Πάφου, ενισχύοντας τη συνεργασία Ελλάδας και Κύπρου, καθώς και την ασφάλεια στην περιοχή.#ΠολεμικήΑεροπορία #HAF pic.twitter.com/KZQvnrJDT9— Hellenic Air Force (@HAFspokesperson) March 4, 2026
According to media, the F 16s intercepted two drones.
Alarm was raised around 9:30 in the morning after information about a suspicious object heading towards Cyprus.
According to information from the state broadcaster RIK, alarm was raised at the US embassy in Nicosia and the staff were taken to the basement as a precaution.
The alarm ended shortly before 10 a.m. and the US embassy staff returned to their duties. 10:14 – Suspicious object detected near Lebanon
A passenger flight from Athens which was bound for Larnaca was turned back to Athens.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letmpiotis posted on X:
“A potentially suspicious object has been detected in the airspace near Lebanon. For precautionary reasons, all appropriate measures have been taken by the competent authorities to investigate and, if necessary, address the incident. Further information will follow on the outcome“
Εντοπίστηκε πιθανό ύποπτο αντικείμενο, στον εναέριο χώρο πλησίον του Λιβάνου. Για προληπτικούς λόγους λήφθηκαν όλα τα ενδεδειγμένα μέτρα από τις αρμόδιες αρχές για τη διερεύνηση και, εφόσον απαιτηθεί, την αντιμετώπιση του περιστατικού.
Για το αποτέλεσμα θα ακολουθήσει νεότερη…— Λετυμπιώτης Κων/νος (@letymbiotis) March 4, 2026
The cabinet meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. was canceled and an emergency meeting of the National Security Council will take place at 12 o’ clock noon.
The US embassy in Cyprus updated its Travel Advisory:
Security Alert – Cyprus: The State Department updated the Travel Advisory for Cyprus to reflect the authorized departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of government personnel. Read the full advisory: https://t.co/Z4gciS8SY9 pic.twitter.com/8fVoTRDwv2
— U.S. Embassy Cyprus (@USEmbassyCyprus) March 4, 2026
Cyprus has been on constant alert due to the developments in the Middle East and the war between Iran, the US and Israel, especially after the drones attack at the UK Royal Air Base late on Sunday and the strikes threats by a general of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Monday.
Increased measures have been taken to protect schools, shopping malls and hotels.
Cyprus has asked the aid of Greece with which it has a Unified Defense Doctrine, its European partners and UK which is a guarantor power.
• Greece deployed two pairs of F-16 fighters and are stationed at the “Andreas Papandreou” base in Paphos, while the frigates Belharra “Kimon” and MEKO “Psara” were seen arriving in Cyprus around 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
• UK announced the dispatch of the destroyer HMS Dragon, as well as helicopters with anti-drone capabilities.
• France is sending an aircraft and a frigate.
• At the same time, Georgia Meloni is considering the possibility of sending an Italian frigate to the area around the island.
The airspace has been reportedly opened again, ERT reported short before 12 noon..
+++ If you plan to fly to/from Cyprus, contact local airport authorities, airlines and travel agents.
sources: cyprusmail.com, philenews.com, Greek media
