France and Greece Send Military Aid to Cyprus

France plans to send anti-missile and anti-drone systems, along with a frigate, to Cyprus after a British air base, RAF Akrotiri, on the island was attacked by Iranian-made Shahed drones, likely fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon. This decision follows a similar commitment from Greece, which dispatched F-16 fighter jets and frigates to bolster Cyprus's defenses. The drone attack, which caused limited damage to the runway, prompted hundreds of Cypriot residents near the base to evacuate. French President Emmanuel Macron communicated the support to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, while Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias affirmed Greece's presence. Cyprus, with its modest defense capabilities, is modernizing its military, including the acquisition of the Barak MX air defense system, moving away from its historical reliance on Russia.