The Ministry of Defence has said non-essential personnel and families at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus have been relocated to temporary accommodation elsewhere on the island as part of measures to strengthen security at the base.
In a written parliamentary answer, Defence Minister Al Carns said the move forms part of broader steps taken to protect service personnel and their families amid heightened regional tensions.
The question was tabled by Conservative MP James Cartlidge, who asked what actions the Government had taken since 1 March to protect both personnel and their families stationed at the RAF’s key operational base in Cyprus.
Carns said the Government had taken precautionary steps to reduce risk to families while maintaining operational readiness at the base.
“We are providing non-essential personnel and their families with supported temporary accommodation elsewhere on the island of Cyprus,” he said.
Essential personnel remain at RAF Akrotiri, where the minister said force protection measures have been maintained at the highest level.
“For essential personnel who remain on site, our force protection measures are maintained at the highest level,” Carns added.
The minister also outlined wider defensive preparations undertaken in the region earlier in the year. According to Carns, the UK has moved additional defensive assets to both Cyprus and Qatar in recent months.
“Throughout January and February, we were moving defensive assets to Cyprus and Qatar such as fighter jets, air defence missiles, advanced radar, and systems to take down drones,” he said.
RAF Akrotiri is one of the UK’s key overseas bases and has been used extensively for operations in the Middle East. The base hosts fast jets, intelligence aircraft and support units, and plays a central role in regional air operations and surveillance.
I noticed the defence secretary told everyone the UK had more jets in Cyprus than anyone else… Could someone explain to him that it’s UK RAF base, I think most people would be worried if we didn’t – a bit like saying the French have more fighter jets in France than any other country.
Suggests that Sky Sabre is there, unless they’re hinting at Rapid Sentry
Sky Sabre will be useful when you consider that our Typhoons are nicely dispersed close together under canvas marquees to save money, in that pic above