Cyprus has complained to the United Nations of 659 violations by Turkish air and naval forces in June and July 2026. The complaint is in a letter from its Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michael, to the UN Secretary-General, dated September 29.
Michael wrote that the continuing violations and the occupying power’s persistent aggressive behaviour clearly undermined efforts to build the confidence needed to resume meaningful negotiations on a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. She added that they also heightened the sense of insecurity among all Cypriots.
The letter was circulated on October 2 as a document of the UN General Assembly and Security Council. It lists 626 air and 33 naval violations, covering:
- the Republic of Cyprus’s national airspace
- international air traffic rules in the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR)
- its territorial waters
- illegal use of closed ports and airports on the island
According to the letter and its four annexes, 203 of the air violations were carried out by Turkish military drones and 192 by armed Turkish fighter jets. The aircraft listed include F-16 fighter jets, military helicopters and other aircraft, and Bayraktar TB2, Anka, Akinci and Aksungur drones. The letter says the Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR and the Republic’s national airspace without diplomatic clearance and without contacting the Nicosia Area Control Centre.
Nicosia also accused Turkey of holding unauthorised military exercises in breach of the Republic’s airspace, for which it said a notice to airmen (NOTAM) was illegally issued.
The naval violations involved Turkish warships, including missile boats, frigates, submarines, landing ships and patrol boats. According to the letter, they violated the Republic’s territorial waters and illegally used the closed ports of occupied Famagusta and occupied Kyrenia, taking part in naval operations by the occupation forces.
Beyond these violations, Michael wrote, Turkish occupation forces breach the military status quo on the island every day. She said they are also steadily building up their military presence and expanding military infrastructure in the Turkish-occupied areas of the Republic.
“These illegal actions are not isolated incidents,” she wrote. She described them as further evidence of Turkey’s continuing disregard for Cyprus’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and as contrary to the UN Charter and international law.
Michael reaffirmed the Republic’s full commitment to supporting the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to resume negotiations. The aim, she said, is a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement that would reunite the country and its people, in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
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