Turkey says it deployed six F-16 fighter jets, air defence systems to northern Cyprus

Move comes after Iranian drone struck British air base in Cyprus last week; Ankara warns of further measures

ANKARA:

Turkey on Monday deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defence systems to northern Cyprus to boost the security of the Turkish community there amid the war in Iran, the defence ministry said, adding that Ankara would take additional measures if needed.

European powers have moved to ramp up military deployments to the ethnically-split island in recent days, after an Iranian drone, which security officials believe was fired by Hezbollah, an ally of Iran in Lebanon, hit the British Akrotiri air base in Cyprus last week.

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"In the context of the latest developments in our region, six F-16 fighter jets and air defence systems have been deployed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as of today," the ministry said in a statement, adding that this was part of the phased planning to strengthen the breakaway state's security.

"As a result of the evaluations to be made depending on the developments, additional measures will continue to be taken if necessary," it added.

Turkey does not recognise the internationally-recognised and European Union-member Greek Cypriot administration in the south of the island, and is the only country to recognise the Turkish Cypriot state to the north.

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Last week, NATO defences shot down a ballistic missile fired from Iran into Turkish airspace, in a significant escalation of a U.S.-Israeli war against Iran that has spread to the wider region. NATO member Ankara warned Iran on Saturday against firing more missiles towards it.

Turkey has criticised the European deployments to Cyprus as moves that risk dragging the island into the conflict.

The deployment comes amid worsening regional tensions in the Middle East and wider Gulf region. The United States and Israel continue to attack Iran with strikes as the latter continues to retaliate with its own strikes on US military bases in the region.

Iran fired missiles at Israel early Monday in the name of the Islamic Republic's new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was selected to succeed his slain father despite threats by the United States and Israel to target him next. Meanwhile, Israel struck five oil facilities in and around Tehran early Sunday, killing at least four people and sparking blazes that left the skies filled with acrid smoke.