The conflict is escalating by the hour. Due to its geographical location 350 kilometers off the Lebanese coast, Cyprus found itself exposed on Monday, March 2 to strikes coming from the Middle East on the third day of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran, leading to a strong response from Tehran. This situation makes it a gateway to the conflict in the European Union, which Cyprus joined in 2004.
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The presence of a UK air base at Akrotiri, a British overseas territory since Cyprus’ independence in 1960, makes it a natural hotspot. This military area near Limassol in the south has been targeted at least three times since this weekend.
On Sunday, the British Defense Minister, John Healey, told the BBC that among the “indiscriminate retaliatory attacks by Iran,” “two ballistic missiles” were “fired towards Cyprus.” He added that it shows how much their bases, military and civilian personnel, are currently in danger, clarifying that he didn’t think they were “aiming” at the territory.
The UK’s most important military base in the region saw its runway hit by a Shahed drone on Sunday evening, around midnight (11 p.m. in France), as confirmed by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. There were no casualties but there were slight material damages, and the Royal Air Force mentioned that the protection level in the region was at its highest.
The UK’s Foreign Minister, Yvette Cooper, described it as “an unmanned drone attack specifically targeting the runway,” on Sky News. She assured that all precautions were being taken around the base.
Cyprus announced on Monday the evacuation of Akrotiri base as sirens were activated, with around 70 cars seen leaving the area, and “two drones unmanned were timely intercepted,” said the Cypriot government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis in a statement.
The European Union is expected to discuss whether to trigger its mutual defense clause in case of aggression soon. This legitimate question will surely be debated in the coming days during planned meetings, noted the European Commission spokesperson, Paula Pihno. The treaty of the European Union includes a mutual assistance clause in case of aggression against one of its members under article 42.7.
Cyprus, currently holding the EU Council presidency, decided to postpone an informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs ministers scheduled to begin on Monday evening due to these threats.
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