On March 2, British soldiers guarded the entrance to the British Akrotiri Air Force Base in Cyprus. Xinhua News Agency
A British military base in Cyprus was attacked by a drone allegedly manufactured by Iran from midnight on the 1st to the early morning of the 2nd, which disturbed the nerves of European countries. EU member states Greece and France have successively intervened. Greece dispatched two F-16 fighter jets and two frigates to Cyprus on the 2nd. According to a report by the Cyprus News Agency on the 3rd, France plans to deliver anti-missile systems, anti-drone systems and a frigate to the Mediterranean island country.
Xinhua News Agency quoted the Cypriot government's statement on the 2nd that a drone attacked the British air force base in Akrotiri, causing "limited damage." Hours later, two other drones flying toward the base were intercepted.
The attack caused no casualties, but it occurred at a time when the United States and Israel were jointly attacking Iran to intensify turmoil in the Middle East. In addition, Reuters and other media reported that the first incoming drone was "made in Iran and came from the direction of Lebanon." It affected the nerves of European countries.
The British side confirmed that British troops in the Middle East are participating in "defensive military operations" against Iran, such as shooting down incoming drones and missiles. However, British Prime Minister Starmer stated in Parliament on the 2nd that although the United Kingdom agrees with the United States using British military bases for "specific and limited defense purposes," this does not include the British military base in Cyprus because it is "inappropriate." According to Serbian requirements, the British military bases in Serbia will only be used for "humanitarian purposes."
Cyprus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean, at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. The Greek and Turkish ethnic groups in the country have long been at odds with each other. Britain implemented colonial rule over Cyprus from 1878 until the latter became independent in 1960. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004. Britain, Greece, and Türkiye have troops stationed in Cyprus. The United Nations has long-term peacekeeping forces stationed in Cyprus and has repeatedly brokered unification negotiations between Greek and Turkish leaders.
Cyprus is the current rotating presidency of the European Union. The EU was originally scheduled to hold a meeting of culture ministers in the country on March 5 and 6, but it was postponed due to the US-Israeli attack on Iran; another EU ministerial meeting scheduled for the 2nd and 3rd has also been canceled due to concerns about the regional security situation and disruption to flights. Since February 28, international flights to and from the region have been canceled on a large scale, leaving a large number of passengers stranded.
According to Xinhua News Agency, one of the two frigates dispatched by Greece to Serbia is equipped with the Centaur anti-drone system independently developed by Greece. According to Reuters, the system has previously been used to respond to attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen on foreign ships. Cypriot defense sources said the system can detect and disable low-flying drones. Greek Defense Minister Dendias told the media on the 2nd that Greece will "exhaust all available means" to defend Cyprus.
The Cyprus News Agency reported that French President Macron had a phone call with Cypriot President Christos Zulides early on the 3rd and expressed France’s intention to provide military support.
According to CCTV News, according to news from the British Ministry of Defense on the 3rd, the United Kingdom will send warships to Cyprus.
On the German side, after the attack on the British military base in Cyprus, German Foreign Minister Wadful was asked by the German media whether NATO countries would be targeted once the conflict involving Iran escalates. He said: "It is undeniable that this danger does exist." He reiterated that Germany will not participate in any direct military confrontation and "is not prepared to use its own military facilities for this purpose." Germany called for a negotiated solution to the problem.
After the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military attack on Iran, the German government has stated that it will "not participate in the war" but "reserves the right to take military defensive measures." Wadful said in an interview with German radio that he understood this to mean that "German soldiers will take self-defense measures if they are attacked." According to the German Ministry of Defense, Germany currently has more than 500 soldiers stationed in the Middle East, including more than 200 in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon.
