Greece transfers "Patriot" system to Crete in anticipation of Iranian escalation

Greece has begun moving a Patriot air defense missile system from the island of Karpathos to the Souda military base on Crete, amid rising tensions in the Middle East and fears of Iran targeting sites used by US forces. Athens is raising readiness levels in coordination with Washington and Israel, while Western assessments indicate Iranian missiles have a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers.

Greece has begun moving a Patriot air defense missile system from the island of Karpathos to the Souda military base on Crete, a step taken amid rising tensions in the Middle East and fears of Iran targeting sites and facilities used by US forces in the region. Local media reported that the move aims to enhance protection of Souda base and surrounding military installations, as the Greek Ministry of Defense and armed forces raise readiness levels in anticipation of potential Iranian attacks. Athens had deployed a Patriot battery on Karpathos in March as part of efforts to bolster its air defense capabilities, before deciding to transfer it to Crete to protect the strategic military base. Greek authorities, in coordination with the United States and the Israeli occupation, are assessing potential risks to critical infrastructure and military installations in Greece and Cyprus. This step comes as Western intelligence assessments indicate Iran retains ballistic missile capabilities with a declared range exceeding 2,000 kilometers, placing parts of southeastern Europe within potential range. Concurrently, Athens has intensified contacts with Washington and Tel Aviv regarding potential threats, as the repercussions of the confrontation between the US and Israeli occupation on one side and Iran on the other continue to affect regional security.