US aircraft carrier deployment boosts military presence in eastern Mediterranean

ATHENS: Security has been heightened at Greece’s Souda naval base on the island of Crete following recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, according to sources.

The base, an important strategic hub for Greece, the United States, and NATO operations in the eastern Mediterranean, has been placed on emergency alert. Access is now restricted to security and essential personnel only, one source said, noting that air defence systems have also been activated.

Last week, the US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford made a stop at Souda for resupply and refuelling before continuing its deployment to the eastern Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, the world reacted with alarm after the United States and Israel launched a series of military strikes against Iran on Saturday, targeting key military and political sites across the country. The attacks, described by US President Donald Trump as “major combat operations,” triggered retaliatory missile strikes from Tehran on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf, sparking fears of a wider regional conflict.

China and Russia led international calls for restraint, stressing the need to respect Iran’s sovereignty and avoid further escalation.