“Cyprus is not involved in the military conflict.” Photo: Shutterstock In light of the direct threat made by a senior Iranian official against Cyprus and reports of drones striking the country's territory , the Cypriot government issued an unusual official statement in an attempt to stem the wave of concerns and clarify its position.
The statement told the public: “There is no indication that the Republic of Cyprus is a target or under threat.” The government also emphasized that “Cyprus is not involved in the ongoing military conflict in the region.”
As reported by Passport News, the United States Department of State has raised the travel warning for Cyprus to Level 3 , which recommends reconsidering travel to the island, due to the threat of escalation in the Middle East and restrictions on the ability to assist American citizens in the Turkish-controlled area of northern Cyprus.
The comments come after an Iranian official warned that countries that aid Israel or the United States could “bear the consequences,” a statement that was perceived in Cyprus as an implicit threat, partly due to the country’s strategic location in the eastern Mediterranean and the British military presence on its territory.
Tensions escalated further after yesterday's drone incident, when unmanned aerial vehicles struck Cypriot territory. Although no significant casualties were reported, the very intrusion into the country's territory underscored that the regional escalation could spill over to countries not directly involved in the fighting.
Cyprus hosts the British bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, strategic assets of Britain and NATO in the region. Although the bases are not under full Cypriot sovereignty, their location on the island makes the country part of the sensitive regional equation.
Security sources estimate that the mere existence of Western facilities on the island is the main reason for including Cyprus in the Iranian threat discourse.
180 Locations Under Security
Alongside the reassuring message, extensive security measures were taken. According to the official statement, “The measures being taken are of a preventive nature and are intended to ensure national stability and security.”
The Cyprus Police and the National Guard were placed on heightened alert, and security measures were increased at approximately 180 locations across the country, with an emphasis on critical infrastructure and sensitive sites.
The government called on the public to “Remain calm and stay informed only through official sources, and avoid spreading unverified information.”
The line being taken by Nicosia is clear: on the one hand, to make it clear that the country is neither a target nor a party to the conflict; on the other, to demonstrate full readiness for any scenario.