Greek fighter jets scrambled Friday and intercepted two armed Turkish F-16s east of Rhodes after the aircraft entered th...

Greek fighter jets scrambled Friday and intercepted two armed Turkish F-16s east of Rhodes after the aircraft entered the Athens Flight Information Region and refused to leave, triggering two separate aerial engagements as Greek pilots worked to push them out of Greek airspace. Turkey put nine aircraft in total across the northeastern, central, and southeastern Aegean that day. Along with the two armed F-16s, the package included five unmanned aerial vehicles, one CN-235 transport aircraft, and one ATR-72 maritime patrol aircraft. The UAVs alone accounted for 13 violations of Greek national airspace and 15 violations of air traffic regulations. The Hellenic National Defence General Staff confirmed that Greek forces identified and intercepted all Turkish aircraft in line with international rules, despite what it described as conduct by the Turkish crews that directly led to the two engagements. Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, have maintained near-daily aerial friction over the Aegean for years, rooted in long-standing disputes over sea and air boundaries. Athens accuses Ankara of routinely overflying Greek islands. Turkey insists Greece is stationing troops on Aegean islands in violation of post-World War peace treaties. Friday's operation is one of the larger coordinated Turkish aerial deployments recorded in recent months, combining manned combat aircraft with a significant UAV presence spread across multiple Aegean sectors simultaneously. #Greece #Turkey #Aegean