eKathimerini –The Greek armed forces on Thursday staged military exercises on the country’s border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and over the Aegean island of Oinousses, following several days of Turkish violations of Greek air space and tensions with FYROM.
Greek military officials say the drills involved activation of rapid-response ground units and aircraft, as well as air defence units in parts of the eastern Aegean Sea.
Over the past few days, Greece has reported a rise in violations of its airspace in the eastern Aegean Sea by Turkey’s air force, and Greek fighter pilots have engaged in a series of simulated dogfights with Turkish fighter jets.
The military drills prompted a reaction from FYROM, which accused Greece of violating its air space.
Greek jets flew over Oinousses but failed to discourage Turkish activity in the area. Turkish authorities scrambled two F-16s, which engaged in a dogfight with the Greek Mirages.
Defense Minister Panos Kammenos visited Kilkis and then Oinousses by helicopter, dressed in army fatigues.
Tensions between Greece and FYROM flared last weekend after the Balkan country’s police fired tear gas to push scores of migrants back into Greek territory.
Around 10,400 migrants remain stranded at a makeshift camp near the village of Idomeni. According to sources, five disused industrial sites are being prepared to host migrants from the Idomeni camp.
The new venues are expected to be ready in the next few days though it is unclear whether there will be resistance to relocation by the refugees who want to continue their journeys to Western Europe.
