Turkish military vessels threatened to use force to stop a rig to reach an area off Cyprus where Italian company Eni was scheduled to drill for gas, AP reported.

Cyprus energy minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis said that the rig's skipper showed “great determination” to reach the target. However, Turkish warships threatened to use force and made them stop.

Lakkotrypis said the rig’s skipper is located in the port of Limassol. He added that it was a failure, but Turkey will not stop Cyprus from an attempt to drill for gas.