On Wednesday (Greek time) a total of nine Turkish military aircraft violated Greek airspace 31 times in different parts of the Aegean, according to authorities.
Two pairs of armed F-16, three CN-235 transport aircraft and two helicopters reportedly entered Greek airspace in the north, central and southeastern Aegean and violated air traffic regulations 13 times. The armed F-16 had to be intercepted by Greek fighter planes following the international rules of engagement protocl.
While tensions between Greece and Turkey increase, a new statement from Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim comes to remind the threats made earlier this year about repeating the 9th of September 1922.
In that spirit, the Turkish PM urged university students to dismiss worries about Greece saying “Do not take Greece into account. It is a country the size of one of our cities. It is smaller than Istanbul. As long as they stay quiet we have nothing to say”.
Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos responded that Ankara’s provocations “don’t scare us.”
“Let them claim an inch [of Greek land] if they dare,” he continued.
Meanwhile, a Turkish patrol boat entered Greek territorial waters off the islet of Paspargos ner Chios island intercepting a migrants rescue operation carried out by the Hellenic Coast Guard.