The government of Cyprus is receiving increasing backlash for allowing British military bases on the island to be utilized by UK and US troops for conducting airstrikes against Iran-supported Houthi insurgents in Yemen.
Activists have accused President Nicos Christodoulides of neglecting the potential dangers that the EU’s easternmost country may face if it continues to allow the use of its strategic facilities for military purposes.
The Guardian has discovered that the US ambassador and British high commissioner informed the Cypriot president about potential military intervention in Yemen prior to the initial airstrikes last week.
According to Tassos Costeas, a well-known peace advocate from Greek Cyprus, there is a constant increase in the number of war planes departing each day. He also expressed concern about the possibility of Cyprus being targeted.
After gaining independence in 1960, Britain kept control of two installations in Cyprus, which had been under colonial rule for many years. These territories operate independently from the republic and cover an area of 98 square miles, which is approximately 3% of Cyprus’s total land mass.
While it has not been officially verified, European Union diplomats in Nicosia, the divided capital of the island, claim that there are United States troops stationed at the military base. “If you observe the fence at Akrotiri, you can spot US military surveillance and other planes,” one diplomat stated.
The spokesperson for the Cyprus government, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, stated on Tuesday that the country is not participating in any military actions. He hinted that according to the treaty of establishment for the bases, the UK is not obligated to notify Cypriot authorities about activity taking place in the facilities. Letymbiotis added that the government maintains regular communication with the UK as outlined in the agreement for the use of the bases.
Last week, demonstrations increased following the use of RAF Akrotiri as a base for Typhoon fighter jets carrying out precise airstrikes on Houthi strongholds in Yemen. These strikes were in retaliation for attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The pro-Palestinian militia has defended their actions, citing Israel’s ongoing offensive as the reason for their recent attack on a Greek-owned cargo ship.
British defense minister, Grant Shapps, visited Cyprus on Friday to ease tensions. He met with the president and expressed the desire to prioritize the safety of Cyprus for everyone’s benefit. Shapps acknowledged the challenges of being in a volatile region and promised to assist in any way possible. He reassured that the Houthis, who he met with, do not pose an imminent danger to Cyprus.
The airstrikes by the US and UK have heightened fears that the Israel-Gaza conflict may escalate into a larger regional crisis. Both Washington and London have promised to carry out further airstrikes if deemed necessary.
Activists from Cyprus express their profound worry that the British bases could potentially be utilized by the US and UK to provide military assistance to Israel. However, neither nation has verified this allegation.
During the protest on Sunday, the participants vocalized the phrase “out with the bases of death” near the entrance of RAF Akrotiri, located near the city of Limassol in the southern part of the island.
“We do not want our nation to be involved in a war that has resulted in over 24,000 fatalities, with the majority being women and children,” stated Costeas, leader of the Cyprus Peace Council. This organization, which focuses on bringing together both communities, played a role in coordinating the demonstration. “We understand the consequences of conflict all too well. It was only fifty years ago that Cyprus was divided by war.”
Witnesses have reported a significant rise in the number of military transport planes traveling from Akrotiri to Tel Aviv, which has been occurring since the beginning of the Gaza conflict after the 7 October incursion by Hamas militants resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities.
Shortly after the Hamas attack, the Haaretz newspaper from Israel informed that a significant number of US and British transport aircraft and heavy transport helicopters had landed at the British Akrotiri base on the island. They were carrying various equipment, weapons, and military personnel.
The UK’s defense ministry has rejected claims that it is utilizing its facilities, which also serve as a surveillance station for collecting signals intelligence, to assist Israel with transporting dangerous goods. A spokesperson for the defense ministry emphasized the country’s humanitarian efforts in the region over the weekend.
The official stated that British Forces Cyprus are still providing assistance in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Cyprus activists claim that US planes have transported weapons to Israel through Cyprus, using storage facilities at its military bases located throughout Europe.
Inquired about the allegations, a representative from the US Department of Defense stated: “We do not disclose specific information regarding military logistics, including aircraft movements, for security purposes. Our military actions adhere to international laws and are closely coordinated with our allies.”
Costeas, the advocate for peace, asserted that there was proof of spy planes being used from Akrotiri. Both London and Washington have refuted any direct participation in Israel’s conflict, but have acknowledged launching drones from Cyprus to Gaza in order to aid in the search for hostages.
The desire of President Christodoulides to utilize the island’s proximity to Gaza for the establishment of a maritime aid corridor between the port of Larnaca and the besieged coastal strip has been publicly expressed. However, this plan has not yet been realized. Last month, a Royal Navy landing ship transported 90 tons of air-freighted supplies to the Palestinian territory through Egypt.
Peace activists from both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities have united to condemn the actions of the bases. The leftist AKEL party has called on the government to take stronger measures to prevent the island from being involved in the violence in Gaza.
Vera Polycarpou, leader of AKEL’s international relations, expressed disappointment in the government of Cyprus for not taking stronger action to prevent the use of their bases. Since 1964, there have been ongoing protests against the presence of these bases. It is ironic and concerning to hear that planes leaving Akrotiri are supposedly carrying only aid, when evidence suggests otherwise.
Source: theguardian.com
