France plans to send anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus after a British air base on the island was attacked by drones, Cypriot officials said on Tuesday, as Greece vowed to defend the small Mediterranean state.
The outpouring of support for Cyprus, which has modest defense capabilities and no air force, followed Monday's attack on RAF Akrotiri. Although the base is considered British sovereign territory, it is close to densely populated areas inhabited by Cypriots, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of people from their homes as the EU state was suddenly embroiled in unrest following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks across the region by Tehran.
France will send anti-missile and anti-drone systems, as well as a frigate, Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said, confirming reports previously published by the state news agency CNA. French President Emmanuel Macron communicated the intention to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides early Tuesday.
In Paris, the French military's Joint Staff said it was constantly assessing the situation. "(The French armed forces) are acting in coordination with our regional partners with the aim of contributing to the stability of the region, in particular under existing defense agreements," it said in response to a request for comment from Reuters.
Cypriot officials said an Iranian-made Shahed drone that caused limited damage to the RAF Akrotiri runway had escaped radar by flying at a low altitude and was most likely shot down by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group from Lebanon. Two other drones were also intercepted on Monday.
Greece later sent four F-16 fighter jets to the island. Two frigates, one equipped with its Centauros drone-jamming system, were also sailing towards Cyprus. Britain has not yet decided whether to send a warship to protect the base, a source close to the matter said on Tuesday.
Centauros, which has been successfully deployed against Houthi rebels attacking maritime corridors near Yemen, can detect and disable low-flying drones, even those that hug the terrain or fly above the sea surface.
"Greece is present and will continue to be present to assist in every way in the defense of the Republic of Cyprus," Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said during a visit to Nicosia on Tuesday.
