Greece moves Patriot interceptor to protect key military base amid rising US-Iran tensions – Kathimerini
Greece has moved a Patriot air defense battery to Crete following threats by senior Iranian officials against US bases in Europe, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported Sunday.
The battery, personnel and equipment were moved overnight and are expected to be deployed near the Souda military base. Greece’s Defense Ministry and armed forces remain on heightened alert as officials assess potential threats to critical infrastructure and military facilities amid rising tensions with Iran.
Allied intelligence is concerned that Iran still has a significant number of ballistic missiles with reported ranges exceeding 2,000 km, putting parts of southeastern Europe, including Greece, within range. The Patriot system was deployed in March to defend against ballistic missile threats.
The report said Athens is in contact with the US and Israel over potential threats to military bases in Greece and Cyprus.
Sources close to the Tehran regime warned Iran could attack US military targets in Europe if President Donald Trump escalates the conflict. The Financial Times reported that Tehran is seriously examining ways to raise the stakes, with senior officials viewing a renewed full-scale confrontation as only a matter of time. Two sources said that Iranian forces have already assessed the possibility of attacking American assets in southeastern Europe.
Bulgaria is one potential target after approving use of the Bessemer air base last month for US military refueling aircraft. Cyprus is also on the list, with a British air base there having been attacked by a drone last March.
