The Greek Armed Forces have activated its anti-aircraft systems in the Aegean islands, according to sources in the Defence Ministry, a day after Turkey carried out a barrage of violations of the Greek national airspace.

A few hours after the crescendo of Turkish provocations and the 41 overflights by Turkish fighter jets over inhabited Greek islands in the Dodecanese, Athens is taking measures in order to be prepared for any eventuality.

According to military sources, the anti-aircraft systems located in the islands of the Eastern Aegean came out of the army bases and deployed in the positions provided by the plans.

If required and as long as the Turkish provocations continue to escalate with new overflights over inhabited Greek islands such as Rhodes, Samos, Kos, Leros, Karpathos, and Kalymnos, the possibility that the Greek air defence in the islands will lock onto Turkish fighter jets should not be ruled out.

By order of Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, the Secretary-General of the Ministry Themistoklis Demiris held, on Thursday afternoon, a new strong protest to the Turkish Ambassador regarding the unprecedented number of violations of Greek airspace.

The Secretary-General stressed that the continuing Turkish provocative and delinquent behaviour, which violates Greek sovereignty, is completely condemnable and unacceptable.

The Greek side immediately briefed relevant officials of the EU, NATO, UN, ICAO, as well as Member States of the UN Security Council.

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