Greece’s National Intelligence Service has entered a heightened state of alert following recent developments in the Middle East, activating a security operation known as “Desert Scorpion.”
The plan, implemented by the Greek National Intelligence Service (EYP), includes expanded monitoring and preventive security measures across the country as authorities assess the potential risks linked to the regional conflict.
European law enforcement agency Europol has warned that American military facilities in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as locations within Greece, could become potential targets of terrorist activity.
Greek officials consider the country particularly exposed because it hosts key U.S. military infrastructure, including bases at Souda Bay on the island of Crete and in the northern port city of Alexandroupoli.
Heightened security measures
Under the “Desert Scorpion” plan, intelligence authorities have stepped up inspections at entry and exit points across Greece, including airports and other transit hubs.
Short-term accommodation and hotel bookings are also being examined more closely. Intelligence officials are reviewing reservations at hotels and short-term rental properties, including Airbnb listings, in an effort to identify who is making bookings and whether any suspicious patterns emerge.
Authorities have also increased the presence of undercover agents operating in public spaces. Some appear as tourists or couples on vacation, while others blend in as hotel employees or conference participants. Their role is to discreetly monitor activity and identify individuals who may warrant closer attention.
Investigations into suspected espionage
The intensified measures follow recent espionage cases connected to the area around the U.S. base at Souda Bay in Crete.
A 36-year-old Georgian man was arrested there earlier this month, while another suspect from Azerbaijan was detained last year. Both individuals were charged with espionage related to activities near the base.
According to information reported by the Greek television network Mega, investigators believe the two suspects used the same coded phrase: “The ice cream in Crete is very good.”
Greek intelligence authorities are now examining whether the two cases are linked and are seeking to understand how such espionage networks operate.
With tensions in the Middle East continuing to evolve, Greek intelligence services say the “Desert Scorpion” operation will remain in effect as part of broader efforts to monitor potential threats.
