Elite special forces units from Greece and Cyprus as well as warships and helicopters from France, the U.S, Israel, Italy, and Egypt took part in a drill Wednesday simulating the hostile takeover of an offshore oil and gas drilling rig as part of the annual “Nemesis 2025” exercises.  

Units were dispatched to counter a simulated terrorist attack on the rig, officials said.

Troops also carried out drills to block suspicious ships, airlift casualties to safety and to deal with an oil spill.

 

Coordination for the exercise was run out of Cyprus’ Joint Rescue Coordination Center in conjunction with the Ministry of Shipping, the Cypriot National Guard police and the Fisheries Department.  

Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas was joined by the ambassadors from all involved nations at the JRCC to view the drill.

 

Taking part was a Greek navy frigate and Chinook helicopter, a French navy frigate and a U.S. airborne surveillance aircraft.

Cypriot forces included seven naval vessels, helicopters, drones, marine police patrol craft, the police anti-terror unit, and elite underwater demolition special forces. 

Greece also contributed airborne troops and elite technical staff. 

Part of the exercise took place aboard a privately-owned double-hulled oil tanker, while private salvage and marine services firms also contributed vessels. 

The drill aimed to hone skills in countering emergency situations involving terrorism-related and mass casualty events, according to a JRCC statement.

The drill also utilized Cyprus’ main air and naval bases on its southern coastline. 

Major oil and gas companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, French Total and Italy's Eni have discovered sizeable natural gas deposits off Cyprus' southern coast and are working on ways of bringing those hydrocarbons to market in the next few years.