An Italian naval frigate has arrived in Cyprus as part of a broader European deployment linked to the ongoing Middle East crisis, Italian authorities said.
The frigate ITS Federico Martinengo sailed from the southern Italian port of Taranto with more than 160 crew members on board.
The deployment is part of a coordinated initiative involving several European countries, including France, Spain and Netherlands.
Greece has also reinforced its presence on the island, deploying the frigates HS Kimon and HS Psara along with four F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Royal Navy has sent Wildcat helicopters and the destroyer HMS Dragon toward the island.
France has deployed the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, while Spain has dispatched the frigate Cristóbal Colón and the Netherlands has also sent a frigate to the region.
Source: Ekathimerini.
