A”security threat” was declared at the British bases in Cyprus
British forces in Cyprus told to take cover immediately
British servicemembers and their families stationed at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus received emergency alerts tonight warning of an “imminent security threat.”
The message told personnel to return home, stay away from windows, and shelter behind solid furniture until further notice.
The Cyprus Mail reports that staff at the base were notified of the threat, and ordered to “return to your homes and stay inside until further notice”. They were additionally instructed to “move away from windows and take cover behind or beneath substantial, solid furniture”, and to await further instruction.
Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that two Iranian missiles has been fired toward Cyprus, but they had been intercepted. Speaking about yesterday’s attack, Mr Healey said: “We are pretty sure they weren’t targeted at our bases”, however, he added that “it shows how indiscriminate” the Iranian retaliation is.
He said: “We don’t believe they were targeted at Cyprus, but nevertheless it’s an example of how there is a very real and rising threat from a regime that is lashing out widely across the region.”
“It demonstrates how our bases, our personnel, military and civilians at the moment are at risk with a regime that is increasingly indiscriminate, widespread and uncontrollable in the attacks it’s mounting,” Mr Healey added.
Israeli journalist Bitton Rosen reported that an “explosion” had been heard close to the British Akrotiri Air Force base in Limassol. He said the blast might have been caused by a “crash”.
The explosions were reported just hours after Keir Starmer said that British armed forces in the Middle East were ‘at risk’. He said:“Our Armed Forces, who are located across the region, are also being put at risk by Iran’s actions. “Yesterday Iran hit a military base in Bahrain, narrowly missing British personnel.
