Cyprus protests UK military presence amid rising tensions with Iran

Cyprus Protests Grow as Tensions Rise Over British Military Presence

Protesters in Limassol, Cyprus have taken to the streets, chanting “British bases out” and calling for the removal of UK military bases from the island’s south coast. The demonstrations follow a suspected Iranian-made drone strike on RAF Akrotiri earlier this week, which has heightened concerns about the presence of British forces on the island.

The UK retains two sovereign base areas on Cyprus - Akrotiri and Dhekelia - since the island gained independence in 1960 under a power-sharing arrangement between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The bases are not part of any lease agreement that benefits the island economically, but have served as launch points for British military operations in the Middle East.

Recent reports suggest that aircraft from RAF Akrotiri have supported campaigns in Iraq and Libya, while also assisting Israeli operations in Gaza. Local residents have expressed concerns about the presence of the bases, citing fears for their safety and the potential for surveillance and intelligence gathering.

In October, a report by Declassified UK revealed that over 600 surveillance flights linked to Israel’s conflict with Gaza had taken off from Cyprus during the first two years of the onslaught. The report also highlighted a US military contractor’s involvement in conducting surveillance above a refugee camp in northern Gaza before an Israeli bombing killed more than 30 Palestinians.

Protesters argue that the bases are “unsinkable launchpads” that allow the UK to treat the island like an aircraft carrier for military campaigns, putting local residents at risk. The UK has responded by updating personnel on the base while providing limited information to nearby residents, which has angered many locals.

The sovereign base areas cover approximately 3 percent of the island, but their footprint extends beyond military facilities, with several Cypriot villages lying within or partly within the territories. The bases are effectively permanent British-controlled territories, and the UK had initially provided financial assistance to Cyprus after independence in 1960 under the arrangements that established them.

The protests have drawn attention from concerned parents and activists, who argue that the presence of the bases is a moral issue and a threat to local safety.

Source: Al Jazeera