Turkish Air Force

Turkish Air Force personnel are attending a training for S-400 missile defense systems in Russia.

Ahead of Friday's crucial meeting between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar issued new threats against Nicosia Thursday, saying that no one should "test our strength, our force, as the price will be heavy."

By George Gilson

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar today threatened the Republic of Cyprus with a heavy price if it does not agree to the co-administration with Ankara of the island's huge hydrocarbons deposits.

In the latest indication of the strengthening of the US-Greece strategic military relationship, and amidst heightened threats from Turkey in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, the arsenal of the Hellenic Army will be substantially bolstered operationally with the addition of 70 American OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters.

Ankara is digging in its heels on the procurement of super-advanced Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems and has declared that it is determined to go ahead with the receipt of the first batch in July and that the system will be used to shield the Aegean and several other areas.

A number of Turkish Air Force pilots and non-commissioned officers who were tasked in missions abroad following the July 2016 coup attempt, including the F-35 project in the United States, have been charged as members of the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the pro-government Sabah newspaper reported on May 31.

Turkey celebrates Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day on May 19, with various events planned in the capital Ankara and around the country.

A prosecutor’s office on May 9 demanded 252 times aggravated life sentences for former Turkish Air Force Commander Akın Öztürk on charges of “assassination attempt against the president” and “murder” in a case on his involvement in the occupation of the building of the Turkish General Staff on the night of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt.

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos implied on Thursday there is an undeclared war with Turkey since 1974 in comments to journalists at an aviation conference that will be held in Tatoi, north of Athens, later in the day.

Syrian Kurds have reached an agreement with the Syrian governmental army to enter the city of Afrin and help repel the Turkish offensive in the region, the BBC reported.