Cyprus has complained to the United Nations Security Council about what it says were hundreds of Turkish violations of Cyprus’ airspace and territorial waters in July and August, Cypriot media reported on Tuesday.
In a letter dated December 8, the Cypriot mission said Turkey carried out 328 airspace violations and 16 violations of territorial waters during the two-month period. It said 93 of the air incidents involved Turkish unmanned military aircraft and 56 involved fighter jets.
The letter also cited what it called violations of Cyprus’ Flight Information Region (FIR), use of “closed ports and airports” in the north of the island and near-daily entries into the United Nations buffer zone, a strip of land patrolled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). The Security Council renewed UNFICYP’s mandate through January 31, 2026.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a coup backed by Greece was followed by a Turkish military intervention. The internationally recognized government controls the south, while Turkish Cypriots run the north, where a breakaway entity is recognized only by Turkey. Britain, Turkey and Greece are guarantor powers under treaties tied to Cyprus’ independence from Britain in 1960.
The letter said Cyprus remains committed to a United Nations-backed settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. The complaint came as United Nations envoy María Ángela Holguín said she is cautiously optimistic about renewed contacts between the two sides but warned it is too early for a broader multi-party meeting.
Turkey disputes similar complaints from Cyprus. In an earlier exchange at the United Nations in August, Turkey called Cypriot allegations “unfounded” and referred to “so-called violations” in its response.