A day after reports that Noble Energy had begun its natural gas drilling off the coast of Cyprus, amid threats from the Turkish government that it was considering deploying naval escort ships to protect exploration areas north of the country, an Israeli expert on the situation deemed the threats grave to both Cypriot and Israeli concerns.

Drilling of the Homer Ferrington oil rig began on Tuesday, and will continue to a depth of approximately 5.8 kilometers below sea level for about two to three months, during which bedrock will be analyzed for quality level of hydrocarbons, Cypriot Energy Service director Solon Kassinis told the Cyprus Mail daily newspaper on Tuesday. Meanwhile, following a statement from Cypriot President Demetris Christofias that drilling was about to begin, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened on Monday that Turkish aircraft, frigates and torpedo boats would be sent to watch over the eastern Mediterranean, Reuters said that day.