CHARIS PASHIAS, general secretary of the Cyprus Peace Council, has called for the dismantling of British bases in Cyprus, which are being used to aid Israeli genocide against the wishes of a majority of Cypriots.
 
In an exclusive interview, he told the Morning Star: “Cyprus is a living example of how military bases do not solve problems, do not provide stability and security, but instead exacerbate militarisation and permanently increase tension.

“In the most blatant way in the last year, the US and Britain have turned Cyprus into a launch pad for war against the peoples of the region.”

Revealing press reports indicate that US war materials have been transferred from the military base in Akrotiri to support the Israeli army’s operations in the Gaza Strip.

Frequent air missions have been carried out from Cyprus over the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon, informing the Israeli army of the location of possible bombing targets. Air strikes were carried out in Yemen using the military base in Akrotiri.
 
“We also know that the Israeli army, under the framework of military co-operation with Cyprus, carried out exercises on the territory of Cyprus, testing a similar operation that they executed afterwards in Gaza,” Pashias added.

Role of the Ministry of Defence

It was also reported back in March by Declassified UK that Israeli F-35 bombers were using the Cyprus base. When asked specifically about this accusation and whether Israel was still using the base, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) told Morning Star: “For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment relating to any foreign nations’ military aircraft movements.”
 
In addition, the MoD avoided answering direct questions regarding its use of Britain’s military bases in Cyprus to transport SAS soldiers to Lebanon, nor did it deny that the Akrotiri airbase has been used as a base for air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.
 
It did, however, state: “No flights out of the SBAs have provided lethal cargo to the IDF,” adding cryptically: “The RAF has operated several flights to Israel since October 7 2023, to support Britain’s diplomatic engagement in the country, but no flights have carried any lethal aid.”
 
The MoD also confirmed using the base to carry out “surveillance flights over Gaza, with the sole purpose of locating hostages.” Given this assistance to the Israelis, who have shown no compunction about targeting innocent civilians in Gaza, the question remains whether the MoD actions make it complicit in the resulting war crimes committed by the IDF upon receipt of such intelligence.
 
Pashias believes that such actions, as well as being morally repugnant, are illegal: “Even the unacceptable Treaty of Establishment states that the British bases cannot do what they want without informing the Republic of Cyprus.” Indeed, he argues that the use of British bases by third states, such as the US and Israel, is expressly prohibited without the approval of the government of Cyprus.
 
He is also concerned that using these bases as a launchpad for aggression against Iran and its allies in the region makes Cyprus a target for retaliation.

“All this military activity is part of the preparation for supporting Israel in the coming widening of the war. This escalation of tension increases the feeling of concern among the Cypriot people that Cyprus is likely to be targeted for attacks.

“Moreover, with the recent Iranian attacks on Israel, the concern has grown even more. The people of Cyprus have realised these days that war is not so far away. In the previous period, many were confronted with the terrifying sight of Iran’s missile attacks on Israel, which were visible from the city of Limassol.”
 
The government of Cyprus has so far failed to respond to questions as to whether it knows what these bases are being used for. Indeed, the silence from its President Nicos Christodoulides regarding the use of these bases in support of Israel’s genocidal war is deafening.
 
In stark contrast, the opposition party AKEL has spoken out forcefully against the use of these bases to support US-Israeli aggression.
 
As far back as December 8 2023, AKEL spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas said: “The government owes answers to the Cypriot people, given that just a few weeks ago the President himself stated that Cyprus would not be used as a base for waging military operations.
 
“Has the government asked Britain to confirm or deny this information? Is the government of our country not in a position to know what is happening on the territory of our country and to inform the Cypriot people?

“Does the government understand the dangers that are being created to the country as a result of the use of Cypriot territory for the war raging in the Middle East?

“In AKEL’s view, the Cypriot government’s silence on the issue of the use of British bases adds to the diplomatic cover it is providing for the war being waged by the Israeli government of the far-right Netanyahu against the Palestinian people.

“AKEL makes it clear in every direction that our island and the colonial remnant of the British bases cannot be used to facilitate the war crimes that Israel is serially committing in Gaza.

“It calls on the Christodoulides government to listen to the Cypriot people, the overwhelming majority of whom do not compromise with the ongoing massacre of children and civilians taking place right next to us.”

Jeremy Corbyn speaks out

Jeremy Corbyn MP has also been trying to hold the British government to account over its backing for Israeli genocide and supply of military equipment and intelligence to Israel.

He told the Morning Star: “It beggars belief that we have been speaking out against the genocide in Gaza for almost a year now. We need a full arms embargo on Israel now.

“That embargo should include parts for F-35 fighter jets used by the Israeli military to commit genocide. And it must include weapons being used by Israel in its egregious assault on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
 
“Indeed, last month, I asked the Foreign Secretary what role Britain has played in flying surveillance aircraft over Gaza and whether RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus is being used as a staging point for flights to Israel. He refused to answer.

“There are many planes flying between Akrotiri and Israel. I want to know what’s on those flights and what those planes are being used for. I also want to know what Dhekelia’s role is.
 
“Make no mistake, our government is complicit in the massacre of the Palestinian people. I am with the millions of ordinary people across the country who want the killings to stop, who want basic dignity for Palestinians, who want a just and lasting peace.”
 
British military bases in Cyprus: unfinished independence
 
After the long struggle of the Cypriot people against British colonialism, an independent Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960.
 
However, Britain imposed the Treaty of Establishment to maintain two Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Akrotiri and Dhekelia — the only military bases in the world that are considered “sovereign,” meaning that they remain under British jurisdiction, and for which no payment is made.
 
Since then Britain has been operating three military bases on the island (which comprise 98 square miles): an airbase in Akrotiri (near the city of Limassol) with spy radars, an administrative base at Dhekelia (near the city of Larnaca) with spy radars, and a third base, Troodos Station (at the top of the Troodos mountain), where spy radars are located that intercept satellite communications and act as a listening post in the Middle East and enable the hacking of drones.