Israel delivered advanced anti-aircraft systems to Cyprus last week, in a second shipment since December, an event that has caused panic and insecurity in Turkey, which views the Israel–Cyprus–Greece cooperation in the region with suspicion and hostility.
Within this context come the statements of President Erdoğan, who warned that Turkey would not allow the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean to be violated, as well as those of the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Numan Kurtulmuş, who spoke of “EOKA–Zionist plans” against Turkey.
A video published on Thursday showed lorries moving through Limassol port transporting components of the Barak MX system, an aerial interception platform capable of striking targets at a range of up to 150 kilometres.
The video shows the deployment of the Israeli-made Barak MX Cyprus Defense system.#Cyprus https://t.co/M8Oa76Vtlu pic.twitter.com/98C4rUBelx
— Greek Report 🇬🇷 (@GreekReporterr) September 12, 2025
Pro-Turkish media point out that the delivery comes only a few months after an article by Shai Gal, former vice president of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), who argued that Israel should consider military plans for the “liberation” of the northern occupied part of Cyprus from Turkish forces, in coordination with Greece and Cyprus.
Middle East Eye notes that the systems have advanced surveillance capabilities through 3D radar with a range of up to 460 kilometres, creating a “digital umbrella” that covers much of southern Turkey’s airspace.
According to Turkish analyst Arda Mevlütoğlu, the Barak MX is “a much more dangerous system than the S-300” and may develop into a key component of Israel’s intelligence network in the Eastern Mediterranean. He assesses that the system poses a serious threat to Turkish forces, as its radar can detect artillery fire, mortars, and rockets at a distance of up to 100 kilometres.
Retired admiral and senior CHP member Yanki Bağcıoğlu described the system’s deployment as “a violation of international law” that “directly threatens Turkey’s national security”.
Turkish security sources told local media that the systems are currently in a testing phase at Paphos Air Base and have not yet been placed into full operational service, adding that future Israeli shipments are being closely monitored.
Speaking on Protoselido on Sigma TV, retired Air Force squadron leader Stefanos Karavidas commented on the capabilities of the Israeli air-defence system and the “Doctrine of Cyprus’ Liberation”.
Also read: What today’s Gaza ground attack could mean for Cyprus
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