Turkish Drones Violate Greek Airspace in Daily Incursions

Greek defense officials have documented a sustained pattern of Turkish drone incursions over the northeastern Aegean Sea in recent weeks, with Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles conducting daily surveillance flights since mid-August, according to Yiannis Souliotis writing in Kathimerini (EN).

Government sources in Athens have linked the intensified drone activity to Ankara’s unilateral declaration on August 16 of two so-called “national maritime parks” in contested Aegean waters. The timing and geographic focus of the flights suggest a deliberate Turkish effort to assert jurisdiction over areas Greece considers part of its sovereign territory.

Two Maritime Zones Declared by Ankara

Turkey designated the first park in the maritime area between Fethiye and Kas, encompassing waters surrounding the Greek island of Kastellorizo. The second was proclaimed near the Turkish coastal cities of Raidestos and Canakkale, spanning the sea area between the Greek islands of Samothraki and Limnos.

A senior Greek government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Bayraktar drones have been flying daily missions over the areas Turkey has unilaterally claimed as maritime parks, with most activity concentrated in the northeastern Aegean.

Drone Operations Based Near the Dardanelles

Intelligence gathered by Greek authorities indicates the Turkish drones are operating from the Canakkale area near the Dardanelles strait. The unmanned aircraft take off and land at facilities in that region and conduct surveillance missions at approximately 17,000 feet altitude in areas adjacent to Samothraki and Alexandroupoli.

Greek sources have described the drone missions as primarily reconnaissance in nature, noting that the aircraft have not interfered with commercial aviation traffic passing through the region. Officials emphasized that while the drones do not systematically violate Greek airspace, Hellenic Air Force F-16 fighter jets scramble to intercept them whenever violations are detected.

Possible Link to Evros Border Developments

Some Greek officials have not ruled out a connection between the increased drone surveillance and ongoing developments along the Evros River border, where Greek authorities have constructed fencing on land that Turkey controversially claims as Turkish territory.

Documented Airspace Violations

On August 17, just 24 hours after Turkey’s maritime park declarations, the Hellenic Air Force recorded multiple violations of Greek airspace by one CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft and three drones. On August 25, four Bayraktar drones and one CN-235 were documented flying within Greek national airspace.

The General Staff of National Defense confirmed the incursions occurred in both the northeastern and southeastern Aegean and stated that all Turkish aircraft were identified and intercepted according to international rules and standard operational procedures.

Turkish drone violations have continued into this week, with additional airspace breaches announced by Greek authorities on Wednesday. The sustained nature of the flights represents a notable escalation in Turkish aerial activity over disputed Aegean waters.

With information from Kathimerini (EN)