Ankara will continue to respond to Athens’ “impertinence,” the Turkish defense chief said on Friday, emphasizing Greece’s continued provocations, offensive actions and illegal acts against Türkiye.

He also said that Ankara will continue to do all that is necassary to protect its rights and interests and that of the Turkish Cypriots in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.

“We have always responded to this impertinence of Greece and we will continue to do so,” Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said at a military ceremony in the central Eskisehir province.

Citing Greece’s recent harassment of Turkish jets over the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas, Akar said the Turkish jets were engaged in a NATO mission.

“Since July 2, the mission notified about its activity to all NATO allies, everyone knew about it,” Akar said, adding that it is “impossible” that Athens did not know about the mission.

“Yet, they intercepted our F-16s, which were carrying out their NATO duty. Greece made a false statement in a denialist way claiming ‘We did not know that these were Turkish planes’,” he added.

Stressing that Greece’s actions are “extremely hostile and wrong,” Akar said: “NATO and third countries should also see Greece’s actions. We have warned all of our allies over Greece. We expect them to be objective. They should know that Greece’s actions and rhetoric (on Türkiye) are not in line with friendship or alliance.”

He also said that Ankara will continue to do all that is necassary to protect its rights and interests and that of the Turkish Cypriots in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.