The National Intelligence Service has put into full operational implementation the secret security plan codenamed “Desert Scorpion” , which concerns the protection of United States military installations in Greece .
According to information broadcast by the SKAI television station, the activation of the plan was decided after the sharp escalation of tension in the Middle East, but also after the arrest of an individual of Azerbaijani origin from Georgia , who was allegedly photographing the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which was anchored at the Souda naval base.
The National Intelligence Service has developed an extensive information collection network around critical military installations, with the aim of preventing possible acts of sabotage or espionage.
Under the plan, officers operate undercover , moving discreetly around military installations. Agents pose as tourists, couples on vacation, restaurant workers or conference attendees , in order to monitor suspicious movements without being noticed.
This specific strategy has been implemented, according to the report, for the last two years and has already led to the arrest of four people for espionage in areas of Crete and Evros , within the last eight months.
Particular emphasis is placed on two critical infrastructures: the Souda naval base and the port of Alexandroupolis , which are strategic points for the operations of the American armed forces in the wider region.
Investigations are also expanding to hotels and short-term rental accommodation , with authorities carrying out thorough checks to identify suspicious movements by third-country nationals.
Particular attention is paid to people coming from regions of the Middle East or to travelers using passports from European Union countries, while their actual origin is different.
A typical case is considered to be two Azerbaijanis in the Souda area, who were using Polish travel documents and looking for houses with panoramic views of the bay, which caused immediate mobilization of the authorities.
At the same time, the security network is expanding to other areas of the country where there is a US military presence. The 110th Fighter Wing in Larissa and the helicopter base in Stefanovikeio are now under increased surveillance.
The aim of the mobilization is to prevent any hostile action , as developments around Iran and the general instability in the Middle East have significantly increased the level of threat to military infrastructure in the southeastern Mediterranean.
