Minister of Defence Vassilis Palmas stressed on Thursday that the primary goal of the Ministry of Defence is the modernisation of the National Guard and the increase and upgrade of its operational readiness and efficiency. The Minister was addressing the "IRIS - 2024" drill that took place, with the participation, for the first time since 2019, of two of F-16 fighter jets of the Hellenic Air Force. The final phase of the "IRIS - 2024" took place at the Shooting Range Kalo Chorio in Larnaka district. The Greek fighters participated in a mission to bombard ground targets, carrying out mock attacks within the Shooting Range. Palmas assured "friendly countries" that the Republic of Cyprus, will continue to be a stable, reliable and creditable partner in a region hit by harsh conflicts with incalculable consequences. He expressed satisfaction and pride for the National Guard, saying that today's exercise is "the result of intensive training and the culmination of a great effort by all. Today, he said, "we are sending a loud message of our determination to defend our national security and sovereignty and our territorial integrity." The Minister of Defence also spoke about the "excellent level of training and professionalism of the personnel of our Armed Forces and the high morale of the participants. We have once again confirmed the reason why the National Guard is a decisive factor in deterring any external threat and a very capable defender in the effort to safeguard our sovereign rights." Furthermore, he said that the Ministry of Defence, is making every effort to strengthen the defense armor, the operational capacity and upgrade the capabilities of the National Guard. The modernisation of the National Guard and the increase and upgrade of its operational readiness and efficiency, constitutes our first goal, he concluded. Meanwhile, in his greeting, Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General George Tsitsikostas, assured that the National Guard, while remaining committed to its mission, with readiness to defend itself from the enemy occupying the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, it also strengthens regional defense cooperation, contributing to the maintenance of peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond. The exercise, he said, "is the culmination of a series of exercises and activities that began on October 8 and are wrapping up today, and through which a number of scenarios were examined, giving particular weight to the night fight, testing with complete success part of our capabilities." "The high level of training of our personnel was demonstrated in practice, with the precision of actions, as well as the volume, discipline" he said, adding that "the successful conduct of the exercise demonstrated the ability to respond to any challenge, with the personnel and means we now have, and which with the tireless efforts and support of the political leadership, are maintained at high rates of availability." The final phase of the exercise was attended by, among others, the Minister of Def ence, the Chief of the National Guard, members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, National Guard officials, as well as Defence Attachés, observers and other representatives of friendly countries. Source: Cyprus News Agency