Russia could attack a British base in Cyprus from Syria

Russia could potentially launch an attack from Syria on a British military base in Cyprus. This claim was made by Andrey Klintsevich in an interview with “Tsargrad”, as reported by the Russian media Gazeta.ru. Klintsevich, who heads the Center for the Study of Military-Political Conflicts, shared his findings on this topic.

According to Klintsevich, the British air base in Cyprus is about 200 km from Syrian territory. He suspected “If a group were to accidentally attack this base and destroy several aircraft, there would be a huge outcry. But the West’s primary response is violence, as has been demonstrated in recent events.”

Klintsevich also said that Russia may soon begin to imitate the actions of Western countries. He pointed out that Russia may, in return, begin to supply modern weapons to opponents of the United States and Great Britain.

Not for the first time

Speculation that Russia could attack the British base in Crimea has been around for some time. Back in April, the Telegraph suggested that the base could be a target for Russian space forces over Syria. While such a scenario may sound far-fetched, the British military presence in the eastern Mediterranean is significant, with the RAF base at Akrotiri playing a crucial role. Some locals even believe that the base could be attacked if Russia decides to retaliate following a US-led military action in Syria.

Security at RAF Akrotiri base is fairly tight, with a double fence, armed guards and a fortified vehicle checkpoint. With the threat of punitive air strikes increasing following the chemical attack on a town near Damascus in April, attention is now turning to the role RAF Akrotiri base could play in the event of a conflict. The base is currently home to eight Typhoon fighter jets and six Tornado fighter-bombers, all of which are operational.

What did Putin say?

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin had expressed a clear position on the issue of supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine. “If anyone thinks it is acceptable to bring such weapons into the conflict zone to attack our territory,” he explained, “Why then should we not have the right to supply similar weapons to regions where sensitive facilities of those who act against us are located? We will certainly consider this.” He warned: “the recent actions of the West” could “destabilize global security” and lead to “serious problems.”

“Delivering weapons to a conflict zone is always a risky undertaking, especially when the suppliers not only supply the weapons but also monitor their use,” Putin stressed that Western military advisers are already active in Ukraine. “This is an extremely serious and dangerous step,” he added.

British base in Akrotiri

The British military base in Cyprus is known as RAF Akrotiri. It is one of the British military bases on the island that remained under British sovereignty after Cyprus’ independence in 1960. RAF Akrotiri is strategically located on the south coast of Cyprus, near the city of Limassol. Its location in the Eastern Mediterranean makes it a crucial location for the United Kingdom’s military operations in the region.

The base fulfils several functions. Among other things, it serves as a base for operations in the Middle East and supports the British forces stationed there. In addition, it plays a key role in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

RAF Akrotiri Base is home to a variety of RAF aircraft including Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets which are often used for rapid reaction alert and air policing missions. In addition, the base is home to Voyager KC2/KC3 tankers for aerial refuelling which extend the operational range of RAF aircraft. RAF Akrotiri Base is also home to C-130J Hercules transport aircraft which are essential for logistical support and troop movements.

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