Christodoulides after drone strike: Cyprus wants no part in military action

President Nikos Christodoulides on Monday stressed that Cypriot forces are “not participating in any way” in military action in the widening conflict in the Middle East, after the British air force base at Akrotiri was hit by a drone at around midnight.

“I want to be clear: our homeland is not participating in any way, and do not intend to be part of any military operation. We remain committed to the humanitarian role we have served all this time, always acting as part of the solution, and not of the problem,” he said in a televised address.

He added that his government will “continue to operate with the same responsibility” regarding the conflict.

“We are doing what we must, with the security of our country and of its citizens as our primary concern,” he said.

He confirmed that the drone which had hit Cyprus was a Shahed-type unmanned combat aerial vehicle, all of which are manufactured in Iran, and said that in the aftermath of the strike, “all the competent services of the republic have been on alert and in full operational readiness”.

“At the same time, regarding developments, I am in constant contact with all European leaders and leaders of other states,” he said, before adding that “we are in a region of particular geopolitical instability with many challenges and problems, which is going through an unprecedented crisis”.

On this front, he confirmed that the national security council is now in “continuous consultation”, with government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis having said earlier in the morning that it had been convened shortly after the drone strike.

Letymbiotis had also said that the National Council had convened at 8.30am.

Personnel on the British bases had been informed shortly after 1am that a “small drone” had “impacted the airfield” and that the bases’ authorities were responding.

It was also confirmed that there were no casualties as a result of the strike, but that “minor damage” had been caused.

The bases’ authorities also instructed personnel to “remain in place and await further instruction”, warning that “there may be additional impact”, with the explosion and siren sounds having been heard in nearby Limassol.