A sense of unease hangs over the Cypriot village of Akrotiri, where residents are grappling with the aftermath of an unprecedented drone strike on the nearby RAF base.
"We never imagined this," says Giorgos Konstantinos, the village's vice-mayor and a retired lawyer. For generations, his family and others have lived alongside the British military base, accustomed to the sounds of planes and military exercises. But the recent drone incident has shattered their sense of security.
On Monday, sirens blared in the early hours, signaling an attack. The unmanned drone crashed into the runway, sparking a government-ordered evacuation. The usually bustling village became a ghost town, with police cars guarding the church and the school locked up. Only a handful of residents remained, seeking refuge in hotels, monasteries, or with relatives in nearby Limassol.
"People don't feel safe when there's so much uncertainty," Konstantinos explains. "Even the British can't provide answers to our questions. How could a drone evade the base's air defense systems?"
But here's where it gets controversial... The drone strike has raised questions about the role of the British bases in Cyprus, especially as the island nation holds the EU presidency. Cypriot officials believe the attack originated from Lebanon, just a short flight away, and was carried out by Hezbollah, a Shia militia group.
Michalis Georgiou, a local resident who works on the bases, shares his concerns: "I'm not sure I'll stay. The same thing could happen again."
The RAF base, located on British-retained soil since Cyprus gained independence in 1960, covers a vast expanse of 99 square miles. It serves as a listening post and spy station, with antennas dotting the rugged landscape.
Across the bay lies Limassol, known as "Moscow on the Med" due to its Russian population. On Tuesday evening, hundreds gathered on Limassol's seafront to protest the US-Israeli offensive against Iran and demand the removal of military fixtures they see as a growing danger to Cyprus.
"Our country must remain neutral," says Tasos Kosteas, head of the Pancyprian Peace Council. "The bases put us at risk, as Iran targets them. The big powers only care about our geostrategic importance, not our people."
This week's strike is the first against a British military installation on the island since 1986, and some Cypriot officials link it to the UK prime minister's decision to allow US defensive use of the facilities. Nicosia has openly criticized London for its perceived lack of clarity on the base's role.
As France and Greece deploy military support to Cyprus, concerns about being drawn into a regional war are palpable. Akrotiri and other areas remain under evacuation, and Konstantinos calls for a permanent shelter: "A refuge where we can feel safe. It's become a priority now."
The drone strike has exposed the vulnerabilities of living in close proximity to military installations, sparking debates about neutrality, security, and the role of foreign powers in a small nation's affairs.
