A Military Base the Size of an Island: Cyprus’s Role in Supporting Israel and Securing Western Interests in the Region

Cyprus, known as the Greek Cypriot side or “Rum” by some, has become a strategically crucial island state for the United States, Western powers, and their ally, Israel. Over the last two decades, Cyprus has served as a vital support and control hub in the Mediterranean, influencing military operations and regional conflicts while receiving strong backing from the U.S. and Britain.

Since Cyprus was divided in July 1974 between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, the West has increasingly seen it as a pivotal military outpost. In terms of Israel, Cyprus and Tel Aviv’s relationship has shifted significantly. Previously, tensions existed due to Cyprus’s historical sympathy for Palestinian rights, but the dynamic changed after Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, aligning it with the Western bloc that overtly supports Israel. Additionally, shared disputes with Turkey pushed both Cyprus and Israel closer together.

Gas discoveries in the Mediterranean have fostered shared interests between Israel and Cyprus, leading to agreements to delineate exclusive economic zones and secure energy supply lines. This has transformed Cyprus into Israel’s “backyard” and a military base that bolsters Israel’s strategic positioning in the Eastern Mediterranean, serving as a forward-operating platform for Western military presence and surveillance.

Hezbollah’s Warning and Turkish Caution

In a speech on June 19, prior to his assassination by an Israeli airstrike, Hezbollah’s former Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, warned Cyprus. He stated that opening Cypriot airports and bases to Israeli forces for attacks on Lebanon would make the Cypriot government a part of the conflict, with Hezbollah treating it accordingly.

Days after Nasrallah’s warning, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Cyprus had become an “operations hub” for Israel’s war on Gaza. He cautioned Cyprus against getting involved in the broader regional conflict, warning that “the fire of Middle Eastern wars may eventually reach you.”

What Does Cyprus Represent for the West?

Cyprus holds strategic value in the Mediterranean, enabling Western control over critical sea and air routes connecting Europe to the Middle East and Africa. These routes facilitate energy transport, military support, and humanitarian aid. Cyprus has also been a long-standing base for Western military operations in the Middle East, providing surveillance of military movements in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Gaza, and Egypt. As regional conflicts continue, Cyprus’s importance as a logistical and military support hub has only grown, playing a key role in maintaining regional security, defending Western interests, and sustaining Israel with essential logistical support from the U.S., Britain, and others.

Military Bases on Cyprus

Given its proximity to conflict zones, Cyprus offers Western forces terrestrial, naval, and air bases for rapid response to threats against American interests in the region, as well as intelligence collection on militant activities and battlefield developments.

For decades, NATO forces, including American and British troops, have utilized Cyprus’s bases as control hubs for extensive operations across Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Yemen:

1. 1. British Military Bases

       

      • • The British bases in Akrotiri and Dhekelia are among the most significant and oldest Western military bases in the region. Established in the 1960 Cyprus independence agreement, they cover 3% of the island’s area, located just 200 miles from Gaza.
      • • These bases support surveillance, intelligence gathering, and logistical operations for U.S. and European operations in the Middle East, including direct support for Israel. As of 2022, around 2,490 British personnel are permanently stationed at these bases, with an additional 700 personnel added after October 7, 2023.
      • • Akrotiri, in southwest Cyprus, includes a hospital, weather station, and airport. It serves as a key launching point for the British air force to conduct various military operations that safeguard British strategic interests.
      • • In July 2024, reports confirmed that U.S. air forces sent planes from Akrotiri to Tel Aviv since the onset of the Gaza war, with C-295 and CN-235 aircraft believed to be used by American special forces among the deployed units.

1. 1. American Bases and Intelligence Centers

       

      • • Though there are no official American bases, the U.S. uses local and British facilities in Cyprus for its regional operations. In early 2023, the British Ministry of Defense confirmed that American personnel have been stationed at the British airbase Akrotiri since 1974.
      • • According to Declassified UK, Akrotiri houses numerous U.S. aircraft, with 129 American pilots permanently stationed, including the renowned 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, responsible for training intelligence and reconnaissance crews.
      • • In October 2023, Haaretz reported that over 40 American transport aircraft had landed in Akrotiri with arms and equipment for Israel, with half of these flights dedicated to military support for Israel.

1. 1. Cypriot National Bases

       

      • • Cyprus maintains several local bases that NATO and U.S. forces also use for joint exercises with Israel and other nations.
      • • The Andreas Papandreou base, near Paphos, is the main airbase for the Cypriot air force and a central site for joint drills, hosting exercises with Israel and other Western forces. On April 11, 2024, the Israeli air force conducted joint drills over Cyprus, simulating an attack on Iran.

1. 1. Israeli Intelligence Presence

       

      • • Several reports suggest that Israel has a substantial intelligence presence in Cyprus, potentially including a Mossad station. Journalist Georges Malbrunot noted that this intelligence post could be used in coordination with Cypriot authorities, making Cyprus a critical security asset for Israel.

Cyprus’s Role in Supporting Israel

Cyprus plays a key role in backing Israel’s conflicts against its neighbors and resistance factions in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran, serving various functions:

1. 1. Military Launch Point

       

      • • British and American forces have used Cyprus’s bases to launch airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthis after attacks on Israeli vessels in the Red Sea. Fighters can also quickly reach Lebanese shores from Cyprus.

1. 1. Surveillance and Intelligence Gathering

       

      • • Cyprus is utilized by Israel and the West to gather intelligence on the movements of Palestinian resistance groups, Hezbollah, and other factions. The island’s bases provide round-the-clock surveillance of airspace and communications, giving Israel and Western allies a strategic advantage in targeting and planning military strikes.

1. 1. Logistical Support

       

      • • Cyprus functions as a logistics hub, facilitating direct and indirect support for Israeli operations against resistance forces, especially in tracking movements and managing military supplies.

1. 1. Military Supplies and Troop Movement

       

      • • Cyprus is a transit point for military supplies, personnel, and equipment bound for Israel. This includes ammunition shipments, surveillance systems, and platforms for moving ships and military aircraft to protect Israeli interests.

1. 1. Joint Military Exercises

       

      • • Over the last two decades, Cyprus and Israel have intensified joint military exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean. These include annual naval and air drills under the “Onisilos-Gideon” program, covering rescue simulations, special forces deployment, and submarine defense training. The most recent drill in April 2024 simulated a potential attack on Iran amid Israel’s preparation for an escalating conflict with Tehran.