ATHENS – Over 1,300 anti-war demonstrators gathered in the Greek capital on Sunday, staging protests outside both the United States and Israeli diplomatic missions following recent military strikes against Iran.
The crowd, consisting primarily of members and supporters of Greece’s Communist Party, carried signs with messages including “Hands off Iran” and demands to “close Souda base,” referring to the strategic U.S. naval facility.
Greek authorities had increased security measures at the Souda naval installation on Crete’s coast just one day earlier on Saturday. The base serves as a crucial strategic location for American military operations throughout the eastern Mediterranean region.
Law enforcement officials established security perimeters around both embassy locations using multiple rows of blue police vehicles to separate protesters from the diplomatic buildings.
According to police estimates, the demonstration drew more than 1,300 participants who marched through Athens streets to voice their opposition to the military actions.
