Akrotiri, Cyprus. British forces’ Cyprus commander Major General Tom Bewick said the British bases in Cyprus could “easily be targeted again” as the war in the Middle East continues. He told the BBC that the Akrotiri base is now “as protected as it can be”.
Warning after drone strike
Bewick said “one would be a fool not to take the Iranians at their word” a month after Akrotiri was hit by an Iranian-made drone.
He said British radars detected the drone as it approached the base, providing “ample time” for an alert to be sounded so that people could be evacuated from the danger zone. He said the damage was “minimal”.
“They didn’t get much bang for their buck,” he said, adding that he “suspects” those who coordinated the attack “hit what they were aiming at”.
Estimated target and aircraft at Akrotiri
The target is estimated to have been a hangar at the base housing American Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, which are known to fly reconnaissance missions over the Middle East from Akrotiri as part of “Operation Olive Harvest”.
Bewick said Akrotiri’s air defences have been “thickened” since the drone strike.
Forces and assets stationed in and around Cyprus
The BBC said eight Typhoon fighter jets and eight F-35 fighter jets are currently stationed at Akrotiri. It also reported three AW159 Wildcat helicopters equipped with “short-range air defence missiles” and two Merlin Mk2 helicopters equipped with “early warning radar” systems.
The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is stationed in waters off Cyprus. Bewick said he is “chuffed to bits” to have a “super high-end” warship in the area, while adding that the base itself now has “adequate” air defences.
Status of the bases
On the bases’ future, Bewick said British sovereignty over both Akrotiri and Dhekelia is “not up for debate”.
What do you think the strengthened air defences at Akrotiri indicate about the risks facing the base?
