NICOSIA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas said Thursday that the eastern Mediterranean island nation is not facing any direct threat from Iran, noting that recent drone incidents were directed at a British military facility rather than the Cypriot territory.
The Royal Air Force at Akrotiri, located near the southern port city of Limassol, has been reportedly targeted several times by unmanned aerial vehicles believed to have been launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon.
According to the minister, four drones have been intercepted so far and one drone managed to penetrate defenses earlier, causing minor damage to a parking area within the base.
Although authorities believe the drones were aimed specifically at the British base, precautionary measures have been taken. A nearby village with around 1,200 residents, located only a few hundred meters from the runway and other facilities, has been evacuated. Schools in several other villages near the base area have also suspended classes for at least the remainder of the week.
Moreover, Palmas held talks with British Defense Secretary John Healey, who paid a one-day visit to the Akrotiri base on Thursday, and the Cypriot authorities announced the establishment of a mechanism to ensure that emergency alerts reach all residents living within the base zone.
For his part, Healey said he discussed with Palmas "how the UK is further reinforcing our air defenses to support our shared security."
A naval unit and two counter-drone helicopters are expected to be deployed to the base in the near future, Healey said.
In addition to the UK, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has been dispatched to the Mediterranean Sea, and the frigate Languedoc and additional air defense assets are also being deployed to Cyprus, while Spain, Italy and the Netherlands are expected to contribute naval assets as part of a broader show of solidarity with the island nation. ■
