On the day of one of Greece’s most important religious holidays, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Turkey carried out a total of 39 airspace violations over the Aegean Sea, reneging an agreement reached between the two nations to avoid provocations on religious celebrations.

Turkish aircraft carried out provocative overflights over Greek islands, specifically in the region of the northeastern, central, and southern Aegean.

More specifically, there were 39 violations and 11 infringements of Greek airspace by 18 Turkish F-16s which flew in nine formations. Of the 18, ten were armed while three engaged in dog fights with Greek fighters. It should be noted that out of the 39 violations, three were overflights.

In particular, a pair of Turkish F-16 aircraft performed an overflight at 11:05 over Kinaro and at 11:08 over Mavra Lerou, at 27,000 feet. At 11:09, a second pair of Turkish F-16s made another overflight over Kandeliosa, at 23,000 feet.

According to the sources in the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, the Turkish aircraft were identified and intercepted in accordance with international rules, according to standard practice.

Based on the Memorandum signed between Greece and Turkey, the two countries had agreed to refrain from provocations during national and religious holidays.