AKROTIRI, Cyprus: Professional-Palestinian activists protested on the gates of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on Sunday (Jan 14), indignant that the British base was used as a launchpad for strikes in opposition to the Houthi militia in Yemen.
United States and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes in opposition to Houthi forces in Yemen in a single day on Thursday to Friday in retaliation for assaults on Crimson Sea transport that the Iran-backed group says is a response to the conflict in Gaza.
RAF Akrotiri was used as a staging level for Storm fighter jets concerned within the operation.
A number of hundred protesters chanted “Out with the bases of dying” on the entrance to RAF Akrotiri, one in every of two bases the UK retains in Cyprus, a former colony.
The iron gates to the closely guarded compound, which sits on a peninsula on Cyprus’ southernmost tip, have been locked with dozens of police current.
“We’re right here as a result of we condemn the complicity of the UK authorities and utilizing Cypriot land for his or her agenda to assist Israel of their onslaught of Gaza,” stated Natalia Olivia of the Cyprus-based United for Palestine organisation.
One other activist, Nicos Panayiotou, known as the usage of the British bases a shame. “They’re utilizing Cypriot land to do one thing each Cypriot is condemning,” he stated.
Britain will not be obliged to hunt permission from Cyprus for operations out of Akrotiri beneath the phrases of the bases’ presence on the island.
The strikes have added to issues that the Israel-Gaza conflict might unfold by way of the Center East, with Iran’s allies additionally getting into the fray from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
Sunday’s demonstration was organised earlier than Akrotiri was used for the strikes on Yemen amid perceptions – denied by Britain – that the bottom is getting used to supply logistical assist to Israel.
In response to the protests, a British Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated: “British Forces Cyprus proceed to assist the supply of humanitarian support into Gaza and no RAF flights into Israel have transported any deadly cargo.”
