ANKARA — Turkey has told Israel, Greece and the European Union to seek its permission before assuming work on a proposed undersea power cable in disputed eastern Mediterranean waters, Turkish state media reported Monday.

Cyprus, Israel and Greece last week signed an initial agreement on laying the world’s longest undersea power cable, linking their electricity grids.

But the proposed link is set to run through contested waters at the center of last year’s tensions between Turkey and Greece linked to Ankara’s search for natural gas.

In a diplomatic note sent to the two countries’ embassies and the EU delegation, Ankara said the three must seek its permission before conducting any work in Turkey’s continental shelf, state news agency Anadolu reported, quoting unnamed diplomatic sources.

The 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) EuroAsia Interconnector’s projected plans show it passing through Turkey’s continental shelf, the TRT Haber state broadcaster reported.

Warships from Greece, Italy, Cyprus and France participate in a joint military exercise from August 26-28, south of Turkey in eastern Mediterranean Sea, in this photo, provided on August 31, 2020, by the Greek Defense Ministry. (Greek Defense Ministry via AP)

Any preliminary work or related initial cable-laying activities thus require Turkey’s approval, Ankara said in its note, the channel added.

Turkish officials argue that with its long Mediterranean coastline, Ankara has a greater right to the waters in the region than Greece, whose claims in the area are based on a small island.

Ankara deployed a research vessel backed with navy frigates last year, despite repeated calls to stop from Athens and Brussels. They withdrew them after the EU threatened sanctions.

Hopes were raised of a resolution when Turkey and Greece in January held their first talks on maritime issues since 2016.

Although there was no breakthrough at the Istanbul talks, the NATO allies will again meet in Athens on Tuesday.

SAMARRA, Iraq — Seven rockets targeted an Iraqi airbase housing US troops north of Baghdad on Monday, a security source said, the latest in a string of attacks Washington routinely blames on Iran-linked factions.

The evening attack on Al-Balad did not cause any casualties or damage inside the base, the security official said.

The other five rockets crashed into a nearby village, he added, noting that all seven were fired from a separate village in the neighboring province of Diyala, east of the base.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

2 rockets landed in civilian areas near Al Balad military base north of #Baghdad, #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/RPNNrs2V8w

— Blesa Shaways (@Bilesa_Shaweys) March 15, 2021

There have been several such attacks in recent weeks targeting locations where US forces operate.

On March 3, an American sub-contractor was killed in a similar attack against another airbase, Ain Al-Assad, in Iraq’s western desert.

That came days after the US bombed a border depot in neighboring Syria which the Pentagon said was used by Iran-backed Iraqi armed militia that have been tied to the rocket attacks.

US President Joe Biden described the February 25 raid as a “warning” to Iran.

Damage was done to a civilian house due to the rocket strike. #Saladin #Iraq ???????? pic.twitter.com/Gr2kRH0smQ

— Aleph א ????#AliensLoveMysteriousCargos (@no_itsmyturn) March 15, 2021

Dozens of rocket attacks and roadside bombs targeted Western security, military and diplomatic sites in Iraq in 2020, blamed by Iraqi and Western military sources on hardline pro-Iran factions.

The attacks had come to a near-complete halt in October following a truce with the hardliners, but have since resumed.