Following a protracted period of calm, Turkey has stepped up provocative activity over the Aegean Sea in recent days, carrying out a series of violations of Greek national airspace and infringements of the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), the Hellenic National Defense General Staff reported on Monday, March 31.

According to the daily update, a Turkish CN-235 reconnaissance aircraft committed six airspace violations and one FIR infringement, while a Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carried out three additional FIR infringements.

The Turkish aircraft were identified and intercepted by Greek air force units operating over the northeastern, central and southeastern Aegean in accordance with international rules of engagement.