An anti-war protest took place in Limassol on Tuesday, demanding the removal of British Bases from Cyprus and condemning the US-led war against Iran, which has led to retaliatory drone strikes against the bases.
“Out with the Bases. Out with all armies. What is Cyprus doing in imperialist wars,” read a placard at the demonstration organised by the Cyprus Peace Council at the Limassol pier amphitheatre at 5pm on Tuesday.
The Cyprus Peace Council condemned “in the strongest possible way the new attacks by Israel and the US against Iran and the bombardment by that country across the Middle East and Cyprus,” according to a statement.
The protest came after Iranian drones struck RAF Akrotiri on Monday, marking the first direct attack on the British military base in Cyprus as the Middle East conflict escalated dramatically.
President Nikos Christodoulides declared on Monday that the Republic of Cyprus will not be part of any military operation following the drone strike. “I want to be clear: Our homeland does not participate in any way nor does it intend to be part of any military operation,” he said.
The UK Ministry of Defence evacuated military families from RAF Akrotiri to alternative accommodation in Cyprus following the strikes, whilst the Cyprus government activated Civil Defence forces and opened emergency shelters in Limassol.
The strikes came after US-Israeli forces conducted operations against Iran on Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, prompting Iranian retaliation across the Gulf region.
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