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The United Kingdom’s RAF Akrotiri air base in Cyprus was attacked with drones twice amid the ongoing American-Israeli attack on Iran, with reports indicating that Lebanon’s Hezbollah, an ally of the Islamic Republic, was responsible.
The first attack targeted the base on March 1, with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper telling Sky News’ Mornings With Ridge and Frost that a drone hit the runway of the air base. Cooper said that “all of the precautionary measures are being taken around the base”.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides later revealed that the drone of the Shahed type was manufactured by Iran, and described the damage as minor.
“I want to be clear: Our country does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation,” Christodoulides said in a statement. He said he was in constant contact with European leaders and others over developments.
Separately, sources told Reuters that RAF Akrotiri had been targeted by not just one, but two drones. The other drone was intercepted, however.
Greece, from its said, announced it was sending two frigates and two F-16 fighter jets from the Hellenic Air Force to Cyprus.
Later on March 2, sirens went off at the base again and aircraft took off from the facility, according to Cyprus’s state TV CyBC. The Cypriot government then announced that two more drones heading towards RAF Akrotiri were “successfully” intercepted.
Reports by British and Cypriot media went on to tie the attacks to Hezbollah, alleging that the drones were all launched from Lebanon.
Hezbollah joined the war alongside Iran on the same day the first attack on RAF Akrotiri took place, launching rockets and drones at targets in northern Israel.
On March 3, the group launched a series of drone attacks, targeting key military facilities in northern Israel, including Ramat David Airbase, Mount Meron, and Nafah base. Hebrew media reported the interception of multiple drones overnight. There were no casualties, however.
Israel responded to Hezbollah by launching dozens of strikes, mainly targeting southern Lebanon and the Dahiyah suburb of the capital, Beirut. Among the targets hit were dozens of branches of the Al-Qard al-Hasan association, and the headquarters of Al-Manar news channel.
Lebanese media said that more than 50 people have been killed so far, with the Israeli military announcing that it had killed Hezbollah intelligence chief, Hussain Makled, as well as Reza Khazaei, a top member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.
Israel didn’t, however, limit its response to strikes. After ordering the evacuation of dozens of towns in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military on March 3 sent troops deeper within southern Lebanon, beyond the five posts it maintained control over after the ceasefire brokered by the United States more than a year ago.
The military said in a statement that troops of the 91st “Galilee” Regional Division are “positioned at several points near the border area as a part of an enhanced forward defense posture.” It added that it is “working to create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel.”
Commenting on the ground operation, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the Israeli military move is intended to prevent “direct fire” on Israeli towns.
“To prevent the possibility of direct fire at Israeli communities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorized the IDF to advance and hold additional dominant terrain in Lebanon and defend the border communities from there,” Katz said in a statement.
“The IDF continues to operate forcefully against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The terrorist organization is paying and will pay a heavy price for the fire toward Israel,” he added.
The Lebanese military, which expanded its control in southern Lebanon after the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, withdrew as Israeli troops moved in, according to Al Jazeera. It is unclear yet if the troops are facing any resistance from Hezbollah remaining forces there.
The ground operation will pose some serious risks for the Israeli military. While Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities were largely degraded during the last conflict and as a result of the disarmament plan implemented by the Lebanese military during the ceasefire, the group’s fighters are highly-experienced, well-equipped and in a position to wage a long insurgency.
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cyrpus has been infested by a jewish invasion. cypriots better wake up. you know how the jews are. they steal land and claim it as theirs. before you know it, the locals will be refugees in their own country.