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.

US President Donald Trump earlier in the day launched a large-scale military operation against Iran in what analysts are calling the biggest foreign policy gamble of his presidency. Saturday’s strikes, coordinated with Israel, target Iran’s top military and political leadership, as well as its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

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.

China calls for an immediate halt

A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry expressed “grave concern” over the strikes and urged an immediate cessation of military actions.

“Iran’s national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be respected,” the spokesperson said. “We call for no further escalation, resumption of dialogue and negotiation, and efforts to uphold peace and stability in the Middle East.”

Russia condemns US actions

Russia’s Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev accused Washington of using ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran as a cover for military action. Russia’s Foreign Ministry called on the international community to deliver an objective assessment of what it termed “irresponsible actions” that risk destabilising the region further.

Middle Eastern Reactions

Iran condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, vowing a “decisive and powerful” response to defend its homeland. Tehran said it had prioritised diplomacy to avoid conflict, but warned that military retaliation was now necessary.

UN and European response

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and warned that the escalation endangered civilians and regional stability. He announced that the UN Security Council would hold an emergency session on Saturday.

Turkey’s response

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran breached the country’s sovereignty and undermined the peace of its people, expressing both sadness and concern over the situation.

Speaking in Istanbul, he also criticised Iran’s retaliatory actions against Gulf nations, calling them unacceptable. He warned that without restraint and renewed diplomatic efforts, the region could be drawn into a dangerous cycle of escalating conflict.

Erdogan urged immediate steps to prevent further violence, adding that Turkey would intensify its diplomatic initiatives to help secure a ceasefire and restart negotiations.