Iran War Expansion: Greece Prepares for Possible Attack as US Issues Urgent Warning for American Tourists

Greece has placed 50 potential targets on heightened alert and deployed warships and fighter jets to defend neighbouring Cyprus as the Iran conflict threatens to draw the eastern Mediterranean into a widening war.

The Hellenic Police, working with the country's security service, identified the targets as part of a contingency plan against possible attacks by 'lone wolves' or domestic terrorist cells linked to the Middle East conflict. They include 10 diplomatic missions in Athens and dozens of businesses tied to Israeli and American interests across Crete, Rhodes and the Cyclades island group, the Daily Star reported.

Major Greek airports have been placed on red alert, with passengers from certain countries subject to enhanced screening. Police sources told Greek media that the risk of an attack on Greek soil is considered visible for the first time in recent years, with analysts describing Iran as 'a country that exports terrorism to Europe.'

The security measures follow a threat from Iran's top military spokesman, Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, who warned on 20 March that parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations worldwide would not be safe for Tehran's enemies, PBS News reported.

The US State Department on 22 March issued a worldwide caution advising Americans to exercise increased caution, warning that groups supportive of Iran may target US interests or locations associated with Americans globally. The alert noted that US diplomatic facilities outside the Middle East had already been targeted and that periodic airspace closures continued to disrupt travel.

Greece Sends Warships and F-16s After Iran Drone Strike on Cyprus

Athens acted after a Shahed-type drone struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at roughly 12:03 a.m. local time on 2 March, hitting a hangar. The UK Ministry of Defence described the damage as minor with no casualties. Cypriot foreign affairs minister Constantinos Kombos said the drone was Iranian-manufactured and launched from Lebanon.

Two additional drones targeting the base were intercepted the same day. On 4 March, two more Iranian drones were intercepted in Lebanese airspace headed for the island.

Greece's Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence authorised the deployment of the FDI frigate Kimon - the most advanced warship in the Hellenic Navy, delivered in late December 2025 - along with the Hydra-class frigate Psara, which carries the domestically produced Kentauros counter-drone system. Four F-16 Block 52+ fighter jets were also dispatched to Cyprus, the Daily Star reported.

France, Germany, the UK, and several other European nations sent additional warships and anti-drone systems in the days that followed.

Iran Threatens Tourist Sites as War Enters Fourth Week

The conflict began on 28 February when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iranian military targets, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other senior officials. Iran retaliated with missiles and drones targeting Israel, US bases in the Middle East, and energy infrastructure in Gulf Arab states.

Gen. Shekarchi's threat raised the prospect of Iranian-backed attacks extending well beyond the region. NATO's top commander, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, confirmed on the same day that the alliance had pulled several hundred personnel out of Iraq and relocated them to Europe following a string of Iranian attacks on troops at British, French, and Italian bases in the country, PBS News reported.

Tourism Fallout Hits the Eastern Mediterranean

The fallout is already visible. Daily cancellation rates for short-term rentals in Cyprus surged from roughly 15% before the conflict to as high as 100% in the immediate aftermath of the drone strike, according to data from AirDNA. As of 21 March, the rate remained around 45%.

Cyprus's hoteliers association reported a near 40% drop in March bookings and a comparable reduction for April. Budget carriers EasyJet and Jet2 noted weaker demand for Cyprus and Turkey, with travellers shifting toward western Mediterranean destinations.

Greece remains classified at Level 1 - the lowest risk category - under the US travel advisory system. The worldwide caution, however, applies to all Americans regardless of destination.

Brent crude oil has surged to around $107 (£85) per barrel during the fighting, up from roughly $70 (£56) before the war, adding further pressure to travel costs across the region.