Egypt called on Turkey to respect international law and avoid actions that escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean region following Turkey’s intention to drill near Cyprus.

France, Russia and the UK have called on Turkey to avoid escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean and respect international law, following its expressed intentions to start drilling off the coast of the Republic of Cyprus.

Cargo planes carrying the first of the Russian S-400 missile defence systems Ankara has purchased from Moscow have departed a Russian airbase and are set to arrive in Turkey on Monday or Tuesday, Habertürk reported.