Security alarm after unidentified aerial object detected
A Cyprus aerial object alert was triggered on Wednesday morning (March 4) after authorities detected an unidentified aerial object in airspace near Lebanon.
According to reports from CyBC (RIK), the development prompted immediate precautionary measures by authorities in Cyprus as the situation was assessed.
As part of the response, a security alert was issued at the United States Embassy in Nicosia, where staff were temporarily directed to underground areas as a preventive measure.
Greek F-16 jets scrambled
Greek F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept and assess the unidentified aerial object following the Cyprus alert.
The presence of the fighter aircraft over Cyprus was noticed by residents across several areas, with many reporting the sound of jets flying overhead.
Authorities monitored the situation closely while aviation and security officials evaluated the potential risk.
Νέος συναγερμός για πιθανό ύποπτο αντικείμενο- Απογειώθηκαν τα ελληνικά f-16 pic.twitter.com/fkme86Aop4
— Sigmalive (@Sigmalivecom) March 4, 2026
Alert lifted shortly before 10:00
The Cyprus aerial object alert was lifted shortly before 10:00 a.m., after the situation was assessed and precautionary measures were no longer required.
Embassy personnel returned to their duties once the alert ended.
Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed the incident in a post on X, stating that authorities had detected a possible suspicious object near Lebanese airspace.
Εντοπίστηκε πιθανό ύποπτο αντικείμενο, στον εναέριο χώρο πλησίον του Λιβάνου. Για προληπτικούς λόγους λήφθηκαν όλα τα ενδεδειγμένα μέτρα από τις αρμόδιες αρχές για τη διερεύνηση και, εφόσον απαιτηθεί, την αντιμετώπιση του περιστατικού.
— Λετυμπιώτης Κων/νος (@letymbiotis) March 4, 2026
Για το αποτέλεσμα θα ακολουθήσει νεότερη…
“For precautionary reasons, all appropriate measures were taken by the competent authorities to investigate and, if required, address the incident,” he said.
He added that further updates would follow regarding the outcome of the investigation.
National Security Council meeting scheduled
Following the incident, the Cabinet meeting that had been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. was postponed.
Authorities instead decided to convene an emergency meeting of the National Security Council at 12:00 noon to assess developments and review the security situation.
The Cyprus aerial object alert comes amid heightened regional tensions, with authorities maintaining increased vigilance over airspace and security developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Also read: US urges Americans to reconsider travel to Cyprus
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