Tourists enjoying their holidays on the Greek island of Crete received an unexpected spectacle this week when a major multinational military exercise unfolded close to the coastline.
The military activity took place at Maleme, near the port city of Chania, where Greek and Egyptian forces demonstrated a range of operational capabilities during the annual Medusa 15 exercise.
The drills, which concluded on Friday, September 18, featured simulated combat operations involving marines and special forces. The exercise also included drone attack scenarios, amphibious operations and fast-boat landings, with military aircraft operating above the area.
For holidaymakers staying at nearby hotels, the exercise became an unusual addition to their beach experience. Some tourists watched from a distance as soldiers moved through coloured smoke and advanced towards the shore while helicopters and fighter jets flew overhead.
Greek military police established a security cordon around the exercise area, keeping beachgoers away from the troops and ensuring that spectators remained at a safe distance.
The exercise lasted about an hour on Friday and attracted considerable attention from visitors who had not expected to encounter a large-scale military operation during their holiday.
One tourist from northern England, Louise Carr, said she was surprised by the size of the operation after arriving in Crete shortly before the demonstration.
Another visitor from Poland, Michal Sitko, described seeing the exercise as an unexpected and memorable part of his trip.
Medusa 15 was not limited to Greece and Egypt. According to Greece’s Hellenic National Defence General Staff, the 2026 exercise began on September 10 and involved military personnel and assets from Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and Italy. Military observers from the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Mozambique and Bahrain also attended.
The Greek defence authorities said the exercise was designed to improve cooperation and interoperability among the participating armed forces.
The multinational operation took place across areas of Crete and the Aegean Sea, with the final phase in Maleme showcasing joint military capabilities.
Egypt made a significant contribution to the exercise by deploying the helicopter carrier Gamal Abdel Nasser. The presence of the Egyptian naval vessel underscored the scale of the operation and the military cooperation between Athens and Cairo.
The exercise comes at a time when countries across the Mediterranean are placing greater emphasis on defence cooperation amid continuing regional security concerns.
Greece has strengthened its military partnerships in recent months, including an agreement with Israel valued at about €3 billion for the development of a new air-defence system known as Achilles Shield.
The wider Mediterranean region has also witnessed a number of new defence arrangements as countries seek to improve their military capabilities and strategic cooperation.
Beyond its military dimension, the Crete exercise provided holidaymakers with an unusual view of modern military operations. Visitors who had arrived expecting the island’s beaches and scenery instead found themselves watching helicopters, aircraft and troops taking part in a coordinated training operation.
The event also demonstrated the extent of cooperation between the participating countries. Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, France and Italy worked together during the exercise, while representatives from several other nations observed the activities.
Greek defence officials said the drills were intended to strengthen the ability of the participating forces to operate together effectively.
Medusa 15 therefore served both as a military training exercise and as a demonstration of multinational cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
For tourists near Maleme, however, the operation offered a very different experience from the usual activities associated with a Greek island holiday. What began as an ordinary day by the sea became an opportunity to witness an international military exercise taking place just offshore.
The exercise concluded on September 18 after 10 days of activities, marking another edition of the longstanding Medusa series and highlighting the continuing defence cooperation between Greece, Egypt and their Mediterranean partners.
