Turkish violations fueling concerns

Greek concerns are growing about the continued violation of national air space in the Aegean by Turkish fighter jets ahead of the Easter holiday, usually a calm period.

On Thursday, shortly before 1 p.m., four Turkish F-16s flew over the islets of Anthropofagos and Makronisi in the central Aegean. Just before the overflights, the Turkish jets engaged in dogfights with Greek aircraft. Two of the Turkish jets were armed.

Earlier this month, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos indicated that Athens was taking action at the international political level over Turkey’s protracted violation of Greek air space, noting that NATO and European Union officials had been briefed about the transgressions along with “high-level US officials.”