Military Training Exercise Alarms Tourists on Crete's BOAK

Sunday, 17 May 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

A military training exercise by the Greek National Guard (Ethnofilakes) on the BOAK highway in Crete caused alarm among tourists who were not forewarned. Armed reservists were deployed along the road as part of a scheduled drill, prompting panic from passing drivers and visitors unfamiliar with such exercises. Greek authorities confirmed the activity was a routine national defense training operation and posed no threat to public safety. Tourists traveling on the BOAK should be aware that periodic military exercises can occur in the area without advance public notice. If you encounter armed personnel near major roads, remain calm, continue driving normally, and do not stop unless directed by official traffic signals or police. The exercise has since concluded and normal conditions have resumed on the highway.