Turkey F-16 Northern Cyprus plan under review after a drone attack on the island, as regional tensions rise across the Middle East

Turkey is considering deploying F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to Northern Cyprus as part of security planning following a recent drone attack on the island, according to a source from the Turkish defence ministry.

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The official said on Saturday that Ankara was reviewing a phased strategy aimed at strengthening protection for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, often referred to as the TRNC.

“In light of recent developments, phased planning is being carried out to ensure the security of the TRNC,” the defence source said. “The deployment of F-16 aircraft to the island is among the options being considered.”

The security review follows a drone strike earlier this week that hit a British military facility on Cyprus, an European Union member state currently holding the bloc’s rotating presidency.

Authorities in Nicosia said the drone was likely launched by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, rather than directly from Iran.

The incident occurred amid escalating tensions across the Middle East following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, which have triggered retaliatory attacks across the region.

Several European nations have since pledged assistance to Cyprus, dispatching air defence systems and other military assets to bolster security on the island.

Despite heightened tensions, Yasar Guler, Turkey’s defence minister, downplayed the likelihood of a direct confrontation between Ankara and Israel.

Speaking to Posta, Guler said the probability of a military clash between the two regional powers remained minimal.

“Although there is a risk of direct military conflict, we currently see the likelihood of this as very low,” he said, adding that communication channels had been established to prevent misunderstandings.

Turkey and Israel have clashed diplomatically in recent years over issues including the Gaza conflict and Israeli involvement in Syria, though both sides have avoided direct military confrontation.

Guler also reiterated Ankara’s call to be readmitted into the F-35 Lightning II Program, which Turkey was removed from after purchasing the S-400 air defence system from Russia.

Washington had argued that integrating the Russian system could compromise the security of the stealth aircraft.

“The S-400 is a system we procured to meet our air defence needs at the time,” Guler said, noting that Ankara had proposed operating the system independently rather than integrating it with NATO defence infrastructure.

According to him, such an arrangement remains the most reasonable path toward resolving the dispute and strengthening cooperation between Turkey and its Western allies.

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The debate over Turkey F-16 Northern Cyprus deployment reflects broader regional security concerns as governments reassess defence strategies amid one of the most volatile periods in the Eastern Mediterranean in recent years.