NICOSIA, March 3 (Reuters) – France plans to send anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus after a British air base on the island was attacked by drones, Cypriot officials said on Tuesday, as Greece vowed to defend the small Mediterranean state.
The expressions of support for Cyprus, which has modest defence capabilities and no air force to speak of, followed Monday’s attack on RAF Akrotiri. Although the base is considered sovereign British territory, it is close to populated areas inhabited by Cypriots, prompting hundreds to evacuate their homes as the EU state unexpectedly got pulled into the turmoil following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks across the region by Tehran.
France would send anti-missile and anti-drone systems, as well as a frigate, Cyprus government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said, confirming reports carried earlier on state news agency CNA. French President Emmanuel Macron communicated the intention to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides early on Tuesday.
In Paris, the Joint Staff of the French army said it was constantly assessing the situation. “(The French armed forces) are acting in coordination with our regional partners with a view to contributing to the stability of the region, particularly under existing defence agreements,” it said in response to a request for comment from Reuters.
Cypriot officials said an Iranian-made Shahed drone that caused limited damage to RAF Akrotiri’s runway had evaded radar by flying at a low altitude, and it was most likely fired by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah from Lebanon. Two other drones were also intercepted on Monday.
Greece later dispatched four F-16 fighter jets to the island. Two frigates, one equipped with its anti-drone Centauros jamming system, were also sailing to Cyprus. Britain has yet to decide whether it will send a warship to defend the base, a source close to the matter said on Tuesday.
Centauros, which has been successfully deployed against Houthi rebels attacking shipping lanes off Yemen, can detect and incapacitate low-flying drones, even those hugging terrain or skimming the sea surface.
“Greece is present, and will continue to be present to assist in any way in the defence of the Republic of Cyprus,” Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said during a visit to Nicosia on Tuesday.
Once heavily reliant on Russia, Cyprus’s modest defence capabilities typically focused on territorial protection. Recent modernisation efforts include the acquisition of the Barak MX air defence system to strengthen aerial coverage.
(Reporting by Michele Kambas and Gianluca Lo Nostro;; Editing by David Goodman, Aidan Lewis, Kirsten Donovan)