Cyprus suffers from its proximity to the Middle East powder keg

"When London granted independence to its former colony in 1960, it reserved this territory and Dhekelia, in the east of the island, to maintain a foothold in the Middle East. In fact, both bases have been used in the invasion of Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, the operation against Gaddafi in Libya, and the protection of Israel during the 2024 Iranian attack."

"Ever since an Iranian-made drone crashed into the British airbase at Akrotiri on Sunday night last week, air raid sirens have sounded almost daily, warning of suspicious objects heading towards Cyprus. British and Greek fighter jets have scrambled on several occasions to intercept them, although the Cypriot government maintains that most of these incidents have been false alarms."

"The immense radar system installed in Dhekelia, which can detect signals as far away as Afghanistan or Russia, shares information with the United States."

Cyprus hosts two British sovereign military bases—Akrotiri and Dhekelia—covering 123 square kilometers, retained since the island's 1960 independence. These installations serve as critical Middle East operation centers, supporting interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Israeli defense operations. An Iranian drone recently crashed into Akrotiri, triggering daily air raid sirens and fighter jet scrambles. The Cypriot government characterizes most incidents as false alarms, yet the escalating security situation significantly impacts local communities and tourism. Advanced radar systems at Dhekelia monitor signals across Afghanistan and Russia, sharing intelligence with the United States. Cyprus's traditional immunity from Middle Eastern conflicts is eroding.

Read at english.elpais.com