Turkey's defence ministry on Monday said it had deployed six F-16 fighter jets to Northern Cyprus as a security measure, days after the island was hit by a drone attack."In light of recent developments in our region, six F-16 fighter aircraft and air defence systems have been deployed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as of today," it said in a statement, referring to a territory which is only recognised by Ankara.
The move comes as French President Emmanuel Macron was due to visit the divided Mediterranean island, whose majority-Greek Cypriot south currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
Cyprus has been directly affected by retaliatory attacks following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with an Iranian-made drone hitting a British base on the island on Monday last week.
Nicosia said the drone was probably fired by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, and not from Iran itself.
Following the incident, several European countries pledged to send air defences and other military assets to Cyprus, with Macron ordering France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean and a frigate and air defence units to the island.
