The drone attack on the British RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus has caused panic among residents and heightened concerns about the safety of the local community. The incident has also sparked debate about the risks posed by the presence of Western military bases on the island.
Giorgos Konstantinos, deputy mayor of the village near the base, described the moments of fear that residents experienced after the explosion. According to him, everyone was forced to immediately leave the area.
"We're used to the noise of planes, but we never imagined this. The drone exploded not far from us and forced us to leave," he said.
In the early hours of Monday, sirens were sounded after a Shahed drone crashed on the base's runway. As a result, more than 1,000 residents of the area were forced to seek shelter in hotels, monasteries or with relatives in Limassol.
A 25-year-old villager said that after this event he is not sure if he will continue to live in his hometown. "What happened was terrible. I don't know if I will stay here. The same thing could happen again," he said.
Residents have also raised questions about why the drone was not detected earlier, despite the advanced defense systems located at the base.
On Tuesday evening, hundreds of people protested in Limassol against the presence of British bases and the US-Israeli military offensive against Iran. Demonstrators demanded the removal of military equipment that, they say, makes the island a potential target.
Tasos Kosteas, chairman of the Peace Council, said the bases pose a threat to Cyprus. "Iran has targeted them. The great powers are interested in the geostrategic importance of the island, not its people," he said.
Cyprus, the easternmost country in the European Union, is just a 20-minute flight from Lebanon. Cypriot officials suspect the Shahed drone was launched by the Shiite militia Hezbollah, while two other drones were intercepted later on Monday.
The British-controlled territory in the south of the island extends to about 99 square miles and is used as a military base and strategic monitoring station.
Tensions have also increased due to recent military developments in the region. France and Greece have deployed modern frigates, F-16 fighter jets, and missile and drone defense systems to Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has stressed that the country has no intention of getting involved in military operations. However, concerns that the island could be drawn into a wider regional conflict remain strong.
