In a region already fraught with tension, covert agreements linking Israel with its Eastern Mediterranean neighbors, Greece and Cyprus, may soon come into play should Iran launch a significant military assault. Sources from Greece and Turkey have been deliberating this scenario in Nicosia, Ankara, and Athens, highlighting the deepening strategic ties among the trio amid strained Turkish-Israeli relations over the past decade.
According to exclusive insights obtained by the Levant Files from multiple credible sources, in the recent period, Israel has forged critical "understandings" with Cyprus and Greece. A Greek source, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized that both nations stand ready to extend military and civilian assistance to Israel if Tehran retaliates against Israeli strikes on Iranian soil with unprecedented large-scale attacks. The source further revealed that, under prior military and political agreements, strategic Israeli assets could be stationed in Cyprus, Crete, and other parts of Greece during such a crisis.
A Turkish source, meanwhile, cautioned that "all scenarios are under consideration" as the region awaits Iran's response to recent escalations, including Israel's unprecedented strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and military leadership. The source expressed concern over the "unlimited support" provided by Greece and Cyprus to Israel, warning that such backing exacerbates an already volatile situation and adds a dangerous dimension to the actions of Israeli leadership under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In Cyprus, President Nikos Christodoulides convened an urgent session of the National Security Council on Friday night to address the unfolding crisis. The meeting, attended by senior politicians and officials, focused on three critical aspects: regional stability in light of recent developments, the potential mass evacuation of foreign nationals under the national "Estia" Plan, and national security. Notably, Christodoulides highlighted the strategic importance of the Andreas Papandreou Military Airfield in southwestern Cyprus. In Athens, this statement has been interpreted by several analysts as a nod to the clandestine agreements with Israel, which reportedly include provisions for strategic support to Israeli forces in the event of a broader regional conflict.