Greece moves Patriot missile system to Crete amid Iran threat warnings to U.S. bases
Greece relocated a Patriot air defense missile system from the island of Karpathos to Suda Bay on Crete on Sunday, according to multiple Greek media reports citing military sources. The system was deployed near the Suda Bay military base in northwestern Crete, which hosts Greek and NATO facilities, including those used by the United States.
The move follows a Financial Times report on Wednesday that Iran is considering targeting U.S. assets in Europe if President Donald Trump escalates hostilities. The British newspaper cited two sources close to Tehran’s government, who referenced American installations in Southeast Europe, including Bulgaria, where parliament last month authorized the deployment of up to eight U.S. aerial refueling tankers at Bezmer Air Base.
Greek defense sources, quoted by Kathimerini and Parapolitika, described the relocation as a precautionary measure to strengthen protection for the strategically important Suda Bay base. Officials in Athens stated the adjustment reflects a changed security environment but did not interpret it as a sign of an imminent attack. NATO, in a statement to the press, said it “is prepared to face any threat and will always do what is necessary to defend member states.”
The Patriot battery had been stationed on Karpathos since March 2026 amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, a deployment Turkey had previously condemned, citing demilitarization obligations under older treaties, according to a report by IntelSlava .
Kathimerini also noted that Iran retains a significant number of ballistic missiles with a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers, capable of striking targets in Southeast Europe. The newspaper added that Greece is in contact with the U.S. and Israel regarding potential Iranian threats to Greek and Cypriot military installations and is considering providing air defense assistance to Bulgaria if requested by Sofia.
In March, a British airbase in Cyprus was struck by a drone, and NATO intercepted Iranian projectiles targeting Turkey, according to Greek media reports.
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🇬🇷⚡️ — Greece has relocated its Patriot air defense missile system from the island of Karpathos to the Suda Bay on the island of Crete. Initially, the system was deployed to Karpathos in March 2026 during a period of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Turkey strongly condemned this deployment, citing demilitarization obligations stipulated in older treaties. @IntelSlava
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