Israel, GB, Turkey conduct naval maneuvers near Cyprus
LAST UPDATED: 07/12/2012 23:24
Heightened tension was noted in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea on
Thursday amid reports that Israeli, British and Turkish naval forces
were conducting simultaneous maneuvers near Cyprus.
Cypriot media reports claimed that Israel and Great Britain asked and
received permission from Cyprus to hold their maneuvers but that the
Turkish navy did not, and as a result Nicosia was considering submitted
an official complaint to the United Nations.
Ties between Israel, Cyprus and Greece have grown in recent years
following the discovery of gas fields in the Mediterranean, some of them
in areas that border Israeli and Cypriot economic waters. Turkey is
opposed to Israel’s decision to partner with Cyprus and has announced
that it too will be gas exploration in the area.