Ankara is analyzing the possibility of sending F-16 fighter jets to northern Cyprus to ensure regional security.

The authorities in Ankara are considering sending fighter jets to the area they occupy in northern Cyprus, to protect the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus', which is not internationally recognized. This measure comes in response to the rising tensions in Cyprus, where the island has been the target of Iranian attacks, given the presence of British military bases.

Analysts suggest that the Iranian ballistic missile shot down by NATO may have targeted Cyprus, not Turkey, as Turkish officials claim. Additionally, Cyprus, split between the Turkish-supported north and the Greek south, has been targeted by drone and missile attacks following the escalation of the US-Israel conflict against Iran. In this context, several European countries, including Greece, France, and the United Kingdom, have sent military equipment to Cyprus, and Greece recently deployed four F-16 aircraft to the island.