ANKARA — A Turkish drone meant to help seek hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean landed at an airport on the divided island of Cyprus on Monday, a Turkish official said, in a move that could further stoke tensions between Turkey and Greece. Cyprus, an EU member, was divided in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. It has argued with Turkey for years over the ownership of fossil fuels in the eastern Mediterranean, thought to be rich in natural gas. On Monday, the head of Turkey's Defense Industry Directorate Ismail Demir said the first unarmed Turkish drone took off from an airport in Turkey's western province of Mugla and landed at Gecitkale airport at 0700 GMT. DHA later said that the drone had begun its first flight in the eastern Mediterranean, but did not elaborate further.

Source: International New York Times December 16, 2019 09:23 UTC