Cyprus preparing for all eventualities on Syria
Cyprus’ foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides has said the country is preparing for “all eventualities” with regards to the tensions brewing in Syria.
On Tuesday, he denied speculation that British airbases on the island – in particular, RAF Akroti on the southern tip – could play a major role in any military strike against Syria.
This followed a report from the Guardian citing two commercial pilots who regularly fly from Larnaca saying they had seen C-130 transport planes from their cockpit windows as well as small formations of fighter jets on their radar screens, which they believed had flown from Europe.
It is possible that any retaliation from Syrian president Bashar al-Assad could be aimed at the two British military bases on the island.
The Iraqi prime minister has said security forces are on high alert in case of an international military strike on Syria.
This comes as general secretary of the UN Ban Ki-moon says the team investigating the alleged attacks need more time.