The decisions of the Greek Defence Council, increased military movements and spy arrested in Suda, US bombers refuelled off Crete before attacking Iran, and the impact of the Middle East conflict on tourism.
Decisions of the Greek Defence Council
Recent Middle East events have Greece on edge. The National Security Council (NSC) called an emergency meeting to hash out plans and responses.
One big concern: a spike in migrant arrivals, especially through Crete. The government’s looking at ways to handle risks and keep things steady at home.
Key points addressed:
- Heightened readiness for possible security threats
- Monitoring of migratory movements in the Aegean region
- Coordination with regional partners for rapid response
The government is watching the Middle East situation like a hawk, especially when it comes to protecting vital infrastructure—think military bases and key ports.
Migration from Libya to Crete is under the microscope, with hundreds arriving each day. Authorities are keeping tabs, trying to stay a step ahead of any surprises.
Greek shipping is on alert too. Only a handful of vessels are going through the Strait of Hormuz right now, and about 35 Greek-flagged ships are nearby, checking in with the Ministry of Shipping’s operations centre.
Safe harbour updates and navigation warnings are going out regularly. It’s all about keeping things safe at sea, even if the situation feels a bit unpredictable.
Another twist: Israeli tourists are leaving Greece as flights pick up again, so there are fewer visitors stranded than before. A bit of relief after the earlier travel headaches.
The government’s making it clear—protecting citizens and national interests comes first. There’s a push for diplomatic solutions, and a strong stance that Iran shouldn’t get nuclear weapons. Maybe that’s obvious, but it’s being said out loud.
Key points:
- Security of critical infrastructure researched and enhanced
- Migration routes from Libya closely monitored
- Frequent updates for maritime navigation via official notices
- Reduced Israeli tourist presence following flight resumptions
- Strong support for peaceful diplomacy regarding nuclear issues
Military Movements in Souda Involving Convoys and Equipment
There’s been a flurry of military activity in and around Souda lately, no doubt reflecting the tension in the region. Convoys—police cars, military trucks—have been spotted heading toward the port.
One convoy, in particular, was said to be escorting a truck likely loaded with Patriot missile systems or something similar. That kind of hardware doesn’t move around for nothing.
Key points about these military convoys:
- Escort and Security: Police patrols and armed vehicles provide security, ensuring safe passage through populated areas.
- Type of Equipment: The cargo includes advanced defence hardware, such as missile systems designed for air defence.
- Purpose: The movement likely supports increased military readiness and rapid deployment capacity in response to regional tensions.
Souda’s role as a logistics hub is pretty clear when you see these convoys rolling in. It’s all about storing and moving crucial military gear, especially with everything going on nearby.
Aspect |
Details |
|---|---|
Location |
Souda, Crete |
Convoy composition |
Police patrol cars, military trucks |
Equipment transported |
Patriot missile systems or similar |
Role |
Logistics hub, rapid deployment |
Security level |
High, with police and military escorts |
These operations need tight coordination, given the sensitive cargo and the urgency. The presence of these convoys is a clear sign that Greece is tweaking its military posture in response to the wider geopolitical chessboard.
Suspected spy took 5,000 pictures of the Souda naval base in four days
In Crete, a 26-year-old Azerbaijani man with a Polish passport was arrested for snapping thousands of photos and videos of the Souda Bay naval base. Authorities say he arrived on June 18 and, in just four days, managed to take about 5,000 images of ships and facilities.
He checked into a hotel and asked for a room with a sea view—makes you wonder. He barely left, except for meals, and always had his camera with him.
Now he’s facing espionage charges. This comes not long after a similar arrest in Cyprus, where another Azerbaijani was caught photographing military sites.
The incident has put security concerns front and centre, especially with regional tensions simmering. The government has ramped up alert levels, focusing on bases used by American and Israeli forces.
Extra policing and security measures are in place around key infrastructure and at diplomatic offices. There’s also some anxiety about how disruptions in international shipping routes—like the Strait of Hormuz—could hit energy supplies and the economy.
Greek maritime authorities have told shipowners to keep vessels docked if they’re near sensitive areas, especially those tied to Greece or its allies.
Key Details |
|
|---|---|
Nationality |
Azerbaijani |
Age |
26 years old |
Passport |
Polish |
Location |
Souda Bay, Crete, Greece |
Duration of stay |
4 days |
Photos and videos taken |
Approximately 5,000 |
Reason for hotel room choice |
Sea view directly overlooking base |
Legal charge |
Espionage |
Related arrests |
Similar Azerbaijani arrested in Cyprus |
This arrest just adds to the ongoing worries about foreign surveillance at strategic military spots, especially with geopolitical instability heating up in the region.
Operation Midnight Hammer: Refuelling B-2 bombers near Crete before the attack on Iran
During the US operation called Midnight Hammer, several B-2 stealth bombers were refuelled in mid-air in three stages. After leaving their base in Missouri, the bombers first took on fuel over the Atlantic Ocean.
The third refuelling happened south of Crete, inside the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR). That last fuel stop let the jets keep going, crossing multiple time zones on their way toward Iran.
This mission targeted nuclear sites in Iran, and honestly, it was one of the more significant B-2 runs since 2001. The route covered a huge distance and needed careful logistical planning.
Refuelling tankers near Crete were crucial for keeping the bombers in the air and ready for action. Without them, the mission’s endurance would have been a real problem.
US military sources say Iranian fighter jets never engaged the bombers. Surface-to-air missile systems didn’t pick up or react to the incoming planes, which helped keep the attack a surprise.
The whole operation took about 25 minutes from the first strike to the end.
It started with a B-2 dropping two GBU-57 bunker buster bombs on the Fordow nuclear site. Then, several bombers released a total of 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) on three separate nuclear sites.
Strikes happened between 6:40 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. Eastern Time. Not exactly a long window.
After the bombing, the US Navy fired off a round of Tomahawk cruise missiles from a submarine somewhere out there. The idea was to secure the operation and keep any retaliation at bay while the bombers pulled out.
Key Facts
Aspect |
Details |
|---|---|
Operation Name |
Midnight Hammer |
Aircraft Involved |
Multiple B-2 stealth bombers |
Refuel Points |
1) After take-off (Missouri) 2) Over Atlantic 3) Near Crete |
Target Locations |
Iranian nuclear sites including Fordow |
Bomb Types Used |
GBU-57 bunker busters, 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) |
Additional Support |
Tomahawk missiles launched from submarine |
Operation Duration |
Approx. 25 minutes |
Enemy Engagement |
None reported |
Greek Tourism: No Booking Cancellations Despite Middle East Tensions
Greek tourism is hanging tough, even with the mess in the Middle East between Israel, Iran, and the US. Industry folks are urging everyone to stay calm and not panic—Greece still looks like a solid bet for travelers.
So far, there haven’t been any cancellations from European tourists. Actually, bookings are up a bit, which is surprising.
Some of that increase might be because travelers are steering clear of riskier places like Egypt and Cyprus. Greece feels safer by comparison, at least for now.
Tour operators admit it’s tough to guess what’ll happen in the longer run. The Middle East situation is unpredictable, and the economic fallout for Europe is still a question mark.
The only real impact right now is the cancelled flights to and from Israel. That’s hit Greek spots popular with Israeli visitors—places like Rhodes, Kos, Crete, Zagorohoria, and Magnesia.
But Israeli tourists make up only about 2% of Greece’s foreign arrivals. Not a huge slice of the pie.
Still, Israeli visitors tend to spend more than average. The average daily spending is around €107, and they usually stick around longer than most foreign tourists.
Key Points:
- No cancellations from European tourists; slight increase in bookings.
- Shift of tourists from Egypt and Cyprus to Greece.
- Flight cancellations affect some Greek destinations popular with Israeli travellers.
- Israeli visitors represent about 2% of foreign arrivals but spend more than average.
- Uncertainty remains about future effects on tourism and the wider economy.
Aspect |
Detail |
|---|---|
Israeli tourist share |
2% of total inbound arrivals |
Average daily spending |
€107 |
Average tourist spend |
€676 per visit |
Impact of cancelled flights |
Localised in some destinations |
European tourist response |
Stable or increasing bookings |
Freeze in Tourist Arrivals from Israel – Revenue Losses between €150 and €300 Million
Tourism from Israel to Greece has come to a sudden halt, thanks to the ongoing conflict in the region.
All flights between Israel and Greece are on pause, except for a handful of repatriation flights run by Israeli airlines.
Israeli travel agencies have cancelled every planned trip to Greece at least through the end of June.
Honestly, those cancellations are creeping into July too—and who knows, maybe even further if things don’t settle down soon.
The immediate impact on Greek tourism revenues is hard to ignore.
Conservative estimates say Greece could lose at least €150 million in travel income if the conflict wraps up in the next few weeks and flights start up again by August.
If fighting drags on through the summer or even autumn, losses might shoot past €300 million.
Israeli tourists are a valuable market for Greece.
In 2024, about 621,000 Israelis visited Greece, spending roughly 3.9 million nights.
This group made up around 2% of all international arrivals to Greece.
In terms of revenue, Israeli visitors brought in approximately €419 million, also about 2% of Greece’s total tourism income.
Israeli travellers tend to spend more per person than other markets.
The average expenditure per visitor is around €676, with an average stay of 6.3 days.
Key destinations include Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Athens, and Thessaloniki, which regularly attract substantial numbers of Israeli tourists every year.
Prepaid hotel bookings made by Israeli travellers are being managed with some flexibility.
These deposits will either be credited toward future stays this year, or used whenever travel resumes safely.
The cancellations and travel interruptions are making things tough for travel businesses and the wider Greek tourism sector.
Key Data |
Figures |
|---|---|
Israeli visitors in 2024 |
621,000 |
Total nights spent by Israelis |
3.9 million |
Share of total arrivals |
2% |
Total tourism revenue from Israelis |
€419 million |
Average spending per visitor |
€676 |
Average length of stay |
6.3 days |
The disruption also affects Greece’s major entry point for Israeli tourists, the Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”.
It usually handles over one million Israeli arrivals every year, but that flow’s dropped off a cliff with the flight suspensions.
The loss of these visitors is a real setback for the airport’s operations and the local economy.
The Israeli market’s season kicked off strong this year, with a lot of flights lined up for spring and summer.
Now, the sudden halt in arrivals is a real disruption during what should have been a busy tourism period.
How big the financial hit ends up being? That’s still up in the air—everything depends on how soon the conflict resolves and travel can safely resume.
