A pre-dawn drone strike near a British military base in Cyprus has ignited a fierce diplomatic dispute, with the Cypriot government demanding immediate assurances from London that the island will not be dragged into the escalating Middle East conflict.
The attack occurred early Monday near the Royal Air Force Akrotiri base.
Air defenses intercepted two drones, while a third struck a nearby area.
The incident prompted swift outrage from Nicosia over the lack of civilian emergency alerts and vague communications from the U.K. government regarding how its military installations are being utilized.
Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis demanded absolute clarity. Mr. Letymbiotis criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, noting that Mr. Starmer failed to explicitly pledge that the bases would be restricted strictly to humanitarian operations.
"We expect full assurances," Mr. Letymbiotis said, emphasizing the severe security risks the lack of transparency poses to the local population.
Adding to the peril, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed that U.S. fighter jets are currently operating from Cypriot soil.
The Iranian military warned that any nation hosting hostile forces becomes "legitimate prey." While London has hinted at allowing allied access to the Akrotiri facility, Nicosia vehemently rejects serving as a military proxy.
In response to the mounting regional threat, Greece has deployed two frigates and F-16 fighter jets to the Aegean Sea for deterrence.
Meanwhile, the Cypriot government is pressing to establish veto power over offensive operations launched from the British bases to protect the island's neutrality.
By Antonis Telopoulos