Exercise with tanks on ‘unarmed’ Greek islands
TURKEYWhile Turkey focuses on the ground operation against the PKK/YPG separatist terrorist organization in northern Syria, Greece continues its provocations in the Aegean. The Greek army conducted military exercises on the island of Lesbos, which was in an unarmed state under the 1923 Lausanne Peace Agreement, and on the island of Rhodes, where weapons are not to be kept under the 1947 Paris Peace Agreement. Kiowa and Apache attack helicopters, tankers and artillery units took part in the two-day exercise on Lesbos. In addition, some of the 1,200 M1117 armored vehicles donated by the US participated in the exercise.
Greece holds exercises despite Turkey’s desire to disarm these islands. The exercise uses armored vehicles and weapons that should not be found on the islands.
‘LET’S GO ONE NIGHT’
In the exercise in Rhodes, the RM 70 multi-barrel rocket launch system was used. In addition, artillery, fighters, helicopters and tanks participated in the exercise, and live bullets were fired. Lieutenant General Grigorios Bundliakis, who observed the exercise, said: “We started with the motto: “If you want peace, prepare for war.” The darkness of night plays an important role in operations. It makes it easier for the army to move and makes sudden raids easier compared to daytime. So come at night and see how our soldiers fight,” he said.