Protests in Nicosia call for closure of British military bases

On March 7 and the following Saturday, hundreds of protesters gathered in Nicosia to demand the closure of British Sovereign Base Areas in Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The demonstrations, involving various activist groups including United For Palestine and Anatropi, began at the Pasydy union building and concluded at the Presidential Palace. Participants expressed concerns that the bases facilitate military actions in the Middle East and the war against Iran, allegedly turning Cyprus into a target for retaliatory strikes. Activists cited reports from Declassified UK regarding surveillance flights over Gaza and US access to the bases. Tensions were heightened by a March 2 drone strike on the runway at RAF Akrotiri, the first such attack since 1986, which led to temporary evacuations. Protesters demanded that President Nikos Christodoulides and Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos end all military cooperation with the US, UK, Israel, and Greece. The demonstrators also held a 'die-in' performance to symbolize the human cost of the regional conflict. While reports vary on the exact participant count, estimates suggest around 500 individuals took part in the march.