Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos has confirmed that the explosive drones directed at British military bases on the island in recent days were launched from Lebanon.
Speaking to The Guardian, Kombos said the origin of the drones points to the Lebanese front as a source of concern in the evolving regional crisis.
“Right now it is a fact that we have to be looking towards the Lebanese front,” the minister said, confirming the provenance of the drones for the first time. He added that authorities cannot rule out threats coming from the broader north-eastern direction and stressed the need for vigilance.
“We cannot exclude anything from the broader direction of the north-east. We have to be very careful. We must ensure that the systems in place cover all possible threats,” he said.
British bases seen as the primary target
Cypriot officials have repeatedly stressed that the attacks appear to have targeted the British sovereign bases rather than the Republic of Cyprus itself. The incidents followed the start of a US-led offensive against Iran and heightened tensions across the Middle East.
According to Kombos, the Cypriot government had raised concerns with the United Kingdom about the potential risk to the bases in previous discussions.
“We consistently communicated that the bases could become a target if developments in the region moved in a certain direction,” he said.
RAF Akrotiri is considered the United Kingdom’s main forward operating base for missions in the Middle East and remains one of the most significant military installations retained by Britain when Cyprus gained independence in 1960.
European forces reinforce security around Cyprus
The revelations came as European naval and air assets continue to deploy around Cyprus, forming an unprecedented security presence aimed at strengthening defence capabilities.
Kombos said the arrival of warships and air assets from several European states, at the request of Cyprus, is expected to reinforce the defence of installations and contribute to regional security coordination.
The United Kingdom has also reinforced air defence systems, deploying Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters capable of engaging aerial threats and additional F-35 fighter jets.
Meanwhile, the British destroyer HMS Dragon, currently undergoing repairs and refitting in Portsmouth, is expected to reach waters off Cyprus later this month.
Security crisis and NATO cooperation
Cyprus is facing one of its most serious security challenges since 1974, when the Turkish invasion followed a coup aimed at union with Greece.
President Nikos Christodoulides has repeatedly stressed that the Republic of Cyprus has no intention of becoming involved in military operations, while maintaining that all scenarios must be carefully evaluated.
Kombos said the government will continue efforts to strengthen cooperation with NATO structures, despite the island not being a member of the alliance due to longstanding objections from Turkey.
“In the meantime, we are trying to ensure we have the capacity to connect as much as possible with NATO systems and structures, even as a non-member,” he said.
Drone attack raised questions about air defence
Cyprus Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said the drone that struck RAF Akrotiri managed to evade detection because it was flying at an altitude of about 1,000 metres and at speeds between 90 and 100 miles per hour, making radar detection more difficult.
Less than 12 hours after the incident, two additional combat drones launched from Lebanon were intercepted at sea approximately 150 miles east of the island.
The attack has also triggered protests in Cyprus, with demonstrators calling for the removal of British military bases, arguing that their presence increases security risks for the island.
Source: The Guardian