Latest news with #Akrotiri
The National
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Mission criticism in Cyprus as villagers watch RAF planes depart for Middle East wars
Adonis Spyrou looks up at the sky as an RAF fighter jet roars overhead on its way to land at the nearby Akrotiri base on the island of Cyprus. His grandparents were relocated from their homes to make way for RAF Akrotiri decades ago and he still feels a sense of resentment towards the base. The facility, near the port city of Limassol, sits within one of two Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus that are British Overseas Territories. Soon after Israel attacked Iran earlier this month, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered the deployment of 14 Typhoon fighters like those flying above Mr Spyrou's house, along with two tankers, in a show of force. Over the past decade or so, the base has also been used by the RAF for action in the Middle East against ISIS and the Houthis. RAF Typhoon jets aided Israel in April 2024, when they shot down an unspecified number of drones fired by Iran, but were not called into action this time around. The base is also regularly used in evacuations of civilians from the Middle East and North Africa, including flights last week from Israel and in 2023 from Sudan as that country descended into civil war. But for Mr Spyrou the presence of the planes has reinforced his concern about the base being at the front line of Britain's military involvement in the Middle East. The scrap metal dealer was hard at work with his hammer in the yard beside the house he owns with his Filipino wife Marilou when The National called. He took time off to have a cigarette and share his views about the base, which he believes are shared by others in the village who are too afraid to speak out. 'We can say nothing but we are thinking that maybe something will happen with the bases and everybody will be killed,' he said, with his wife helping to translate. 'The base, they do what they want. They don't talk to us, they don't care about us. They don't care what we think.' Mr Spyrou accused the government of Cyprus of potentially putting its citizens in harm's way. 'The government of Cyprus tells [the UK] they can do whatever they want,' he said. 'People here in Cyprus don't have a voice. Who is listening? I'm angry about this.' The presence of RAF planes has also attracted the attention of pro-Palestinian activists, who have attached their own signs pointing to 'Britain's Genocide Base' to road signs. They alleged the base was being used to transport 'lethal cargo', such as weapons and ammunition, to Israel. The base strenuously denies the allegation. The claim that Britain was using Akrotiri to assist Israel in its war in Gaza was also behind an attack on military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in the UK. Three people were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of a terror offence in connection with the incident. Palestine Action had posted footage online showing people inside the Oxfordshire base, with one person appearing to ride an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker, before spray painting into its engine. RAF Akrotiri also appears to have attracted the attention of the Iranians. A British man has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying and terror-related offences. Cypriot outlet Philenews reported that the man had links to 'Iranian operatives' and had arrived on the Mediterranean island last month, posing as a tourist. It said high-resolution cameras, telephoto lenses, notes, computers and three mobile phones were discovered at the suspect's apartment. It described the suspect as being of Azeri descent. The UK's military presence on the island dates from 1878 when it received Cyprus as a protectorate from the Ottoman Empire in exchange for its support against Russia. After Cyprus gained independence in 1960, the UK retained sovereignty over approximately 98 square miles of territory for military bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Those locals who left Akrotiri were given compensation to relocate. In the end it was decided not to move the entire village. The base itself is around 3.5km from the village and has several quirks that mark it out as a little piece of Britain. On the main road, Queen Elizabeth Street, is The Hamlet pub and George's Fish and Chips, while the chatter of British service personnel gathering for a coffee can be heard in a cafe. Mr Spyrou lives on a hill a few blocks back. While business appears to be ticking over well down on the main street, he says things have been tough for him recently. He owns a plot of land but has been unable to obtain planning permission from the base authorities to expand his business there. His wife explained that 'this piece of land is yours and maybe you want to do something like build a business but without their permission you can't do anything even though it's yours'. Other businesses in the village, including a nearby mechanic's workshop, have struggled to obtain planning permission. Many people in the village believe it could be more prosperous if more permission was given to develop land, 'but they don't voice their opinions' said Mrs Spyrou. Other villagers seem to want to keep their opinions to themselves. A neighbour of Mr Spyrou drew his finger across his lips and smiled when The National asked for his views of the base. 'During the war in Iraq, the television crews came and everyone was quiet,' he said. Others, though, have grown accustomed to the base being a potential target. A coffee shop worker, who asked not be identified, said: 'It's ongoing all the time, isn't it, so who knows what will happen.'
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Briton ‘spying for Iran surveilled air base where US troops landed hours before'
A British terror suspect accused of spying for Iran allegedly surveilled an air base where US troops and an American transport aircraft had landed hours beforehand. The man, who also has Azerbaijani nationality, travelled to Andreas Papandreou air base in Paphos on Friday used a long-range camera, capable of a 125x optical zoom to photograph military movements there, according to reports. It is the primary air base of the Cyprus Air Force and is home to the country's fleet of anti-tank and attack helicopters. It is also sometimes used by the US air force. The suspect, who has apparent links to Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), had also been surveilling Britain's Akrotiri base which is home to the RAF's Typhoons. 'Plotting attack' Foreign intelligence services flagged that he may have been planning an imminent terror attack, Israel's Channel 12 reported. The arrested Briton is said to have taken two buses to make the 68km-long journey to the Andreas Papandreou air base in Paphos. When he arrived, the suspect walked to Paphos airport and rented a car which he later used to help him discreetly photograph military installations at the air base, according to police sources first cited by Phileleftheros, Cyprus's largest daily newspaper. The visit coincided with an arrival of American transport aircraft earlier in the day. Hundreds of US marines are now stationed in Paphos with an estimated 43,000 troops deployed in the wider region in readiness for the growing conflict in the Middle East. The suspect, who has been living in the coastal city of Limassol for approximately three months, owned a Nikon Coolpix P1100 camera allowing telescopic-like zoom with high resolution, according to intelligence data passed onto police. Cypriot authorities have withheld his identity on grounds of national security and allege that he had been monitoring Britain's Akrotiri base and Andreas Papandreou air base since mid-April. The suspected spy was seen walking near RAF Akrotiri almost daily, carrying a camera with a magnifying lens and three mobile phones. He is said to have been taking photos with long-lens cameras as well as phones, using other electronic devices, and writing copious notes. Counter-terror police arrested him in Zakaki, a small neighbourhood in the west of Limassol, the day after he travelled to Andreas Papandreou air base, for 'criminal acts related, among others, to terrorism and espionage'. After a hearing held behind closed doors on Saturday at Limassol District Court, he was remanded in custody and is being held in detention until Sunday. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are in contact with the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man.' It came as Greek authorities arrested a 26-year-old Azerbaijani man on suspicion of espionage in Crete after he was caught allegedly taking photos of a major Nato naval base on the north-west coast of the island on Sunday. Souda Naval Base is the largest Nato naval base in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and hosts the second largest number of warships for the Hellenic Navy. The suspect had reportedly been staying in a hotel room overlooking Souda Bay since June 18 and had paid for a month's stay in advance but hardly left his room. The man, who is believed to have been born in Azerbaijan but holds a Polish passport, was detained in a joint operation of the National Intelligence Service (EYP) and the Hellenic Police. Detectives allegedly found more than 5,000 photographs and encryption software on a laptop that was confiscated, along with other digital equipment, from the hotel room. Authorities are investigating whether he was monitoring the base in Souda and if the case is linked with the arrest of the British terror suspect in Cyprus, 745km away.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
UK informed ahead of US strikes on Iran, no request for help, minister says
Britain was informed of the U.S. military strikes on Iran ahead of time, but did not receive any U.S. request for their shared Diego Garcia air base in the Indian Ocean to be used, senior minister Jonathan Reynolds said on Sunday. U.S. President Donald Trump said he had "obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites in strikes overnight, in a major new escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to reserve all options to defend itself. Reynolds said Britain had not taken part in the strikes, though it had previously moved military assets to the region and would take "all action necessary" to defend its key allies if they came under threat. He added that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was talking to Britain's allies on Sunday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo "I know often because of British military assets, RAF Akrotiri (in Cyprus) or Diego Garcia, sometimes that request is made. And this was not a situation where that request was made," Reynolds, the business and trade minister, told Sky News. Diego Garcia is a strategically important UK-U.S. military base located in the Chagos Islands. Live Events Reynolds said Britain knew about the strike in advance. "I can't tell you exactly when we did know, but we were informed, as you might expect," he said. Reynolds said that the government was in "active conversations" about chartering aircraft to get people out of the region within "hours, not days", pending the possible reopening of Israeli airspace. Britain's foreign ministry said it was preparing for a charter flight "early next week", adding that British nationals and their dependants in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories who were interested should register their details.
The Independent
21-06-2025
- The Independent
Brit arrested in Cyprus accused of spying
A British man has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of espionage and terrorism offences. He is alleged to have been monitoring the RAF Akrotiri base and is suspected of having links with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Intelligence suggested the man was planning an imminent terrorist attack, leading to his arrest on Friday. The man was reportedly observed near RAF Akrotiri, a critical UK airbase for Middle East operations, carrying a camera with a long lens and multiple mobile phones. The UK Foreign Office is in contact with Cypriot authorities regarding the arrest of the British national.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
British man arrested in Cyprus suspected of spying and terror offences
A British man has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying and terror-related offences. The BBC understands he is thought to have carried out surveillance for Iran on the RAF Akrotiri base on the island. Local media say he is of Azerbaijani descent and has connections to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. He appeared in a district court earlier on Saturday and was detained for a further eight days. The Foreign Office said it was in contact with Cypriot authorities. RAF Akrotiri is the UK's most significant base in the region and has previously been used to help defend Israeli skies from attack by Iran. Last week, it was announced that further planes would be sent there to protect existing UK assets. In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said: "We are in contact [with] the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man." The statement was provided to the BBC following a question regarding reports in Cypriot media about the counter-terror arrest. Police on the island said a man had been arrested on suspicion of terror-related offences and espionage. They said they would not say more for reasons of national security. Cyprus's ANT1 news outlet said the suspect was thought to have had RAF Akrotiri under surveillance, as well as Cyprus's own Andreas Papandreou Air Base in the western region of Paphos since mid-April. RAF Akrotiri is home to fast jets, reconnaissance, transport and refuelling aircraft.
