Cyprus Arrests Suspected IRGC Operative Plotting Attacks on British, Cypriot Bases

Authorities in Cyprus have arrested a man of Azeri descent on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses and espionage, including surveillance of British and Cypriot military bases such as the RAF base in Akrotiri and the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos. The suspect is believed to have links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was detained following credible intelligence from a foreign agency warning of a potential attack. He appeared before a district court, which ordered an eight-day detention for further investigation, with additional details withheld due to national security concerns. Cyprus, strategically located near the Middle East, has recently become a transit point amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, prompting heightened security measures, especially around Israeli tourists. Terror-related offenses in Cyprus remain rare, but authorities are vigilant given the regional conflict and increased movement through the island. The case underscores ongoing concerns over regional instability and espionage involving Iranian-linked actors targeting Western military interests.