Nicosia: An incident involving a suspicious airborne object detected on Wednesday morning in the airspace near Lebanon has been concluded, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis announced, following a reconnaissance mission by Greek fighter jets from Cyprus.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Letymbiotis communicated through a social media post that the incident, which had been flagged for relevant investigation, is now considered to be over. He assured that competent authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and are taking necessary measures in accordance with established procedures. Letymbiotis also confirmed that official updates will be provided as needed.
Earlier that morning, two Greek F-16 fighter jets were dispatched from the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos after the detection of a potentially suspicious object in airspace near Lebanon, which was reportedly moving towards Cyprus. Competent sources reported that the aircraft conducted reconnaissance and response operations amid heightened alert and safely returned to base upon completing their mission. Authorities emphasized that all relevant government protocols were activated due to the suspicion of a potential threat.
A security alert was issued at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia around 9:30 a.m. Embassy staff were directed to a secure underground area as a precaution, with safety protocols implemented. The alert was lifted shortly before 10:00 a.m., allowing personnel to resume their duties. Precautionary measures were similarly implemented at a nearby English-speaking kindergarten attended by children of embassy employees, where the children were temporarily relocated to a shelter area.
Hermes Airports confirmed that Cyprus' airspace remained open throughout the incident. Letymbiotis clarified in a separate post that the airspace of the Republic of Cyprus "was never closed." As part of standard procedures, two flights were briefly instructed to hold to ensure operational safety, with one pilot deciding to return to Athens while the second flight landed shortly thereafter. Air traffic has since returned to normal operations.
The Cabinet meeting initially scheduled for 9:30 a.m. was postponed to 4:00 p.m., while the National Security Council convened at noon to review the situation.
In a related event on March 2, a Shahed-type drone struck military facilities in the British Bases in Akrotiri, located at the southern tip of Cyprus, resulting in minor damage amid regional tensions following US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The drone attack, believed to be linked to Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, led to increased security measures. Several countries, including Greece, France, and the UK, announced the deployment of warships, fighter jets, and other military support to safeguard Cyprus. Nicosia has reiterated its non-involvement in the broader Middle East conflict.