Cyprus Gets 'Reconsider Travel' Advisory

The drone that struck the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri on March 2 was reportedly an Iranian-made Shahed, with officials suspecting it was fired by Iran-backed Hezbollah from Lebanon. The strike caused limited damage to an aircraft hangar and was followed hours later by two more drones which were successfully intercepted. This was the first time a British base in Cyprus had been hit since an attack by Libyan militants in 1986. Following the strike, the U.S. authorized the departure of non-emergency government employees and their families, citing safety risks. The advisory warns of the "threat of armed conflict" and also notes the limited ability of the U.S. embassy to provide assistance to citizens in the northern part of Cyprus, which is administered by Turkish Cypriots and not recognized by the U.S. The incident has created friction between Cyprus and the United Kingdom. The Cypriot government has expressed its dissatisfaction and has not ruled out renegotiating the 1960 treaty that established the sovereign British bases on the island. The travel warning comes at a sensitive time for the nation's economy, which relies heavily on tourism. The sector accounts for nearly 15% of Cyprus's GDP and brought in a record €3.69 billion in revenue in 2025. While British and Israeli tourists are the largest groups, Cyprus has seen a record number of visitors from the United States. In 2023, 48,616 Americans visited the island, with U.S. tourists also ranking among the highest spenders per person. In response to the attack, France is sending anti-drone systems to Cyprus, and Greece has offered assistance. Several major airlines, including British Airways, Lufthansa, and EasyJet, have suspended services to and from the island nation.