Iranian general threatens missile strikes on Cyprus
A senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard corps (IRGC) warned on Monday of intensified missile attacks on Cyprus, citing what he claimed was an expanded United States military presence on the island.
IRGC General Sardar Jabbari was quoted by Iranian state-affiliated media as claiming that Washington had transferred a significant number of aircraft to Cyprus and that this would prompt a forceful response.
“The Americans have moved most of their aircraft to Cyprus. We will launch missiles at Cyprus with such intensity that the Americans will be forced to leave the island,” Jabbari said.
The statements follow drone incidents at the British bases in Akrotiri and amid broader instability in the Middle East following the death of supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, repeated that Cyprus itself is not a target and that the republic is not participating in any military operations.
He said any threats or hostile rhetoric are directed at the British bases and not at the Cypriot state.
“Cyprus has never been, and is not, a target.”
In a closed briefing with journalists, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas described the Iranian general’s comments as “expected” in the current geopolitical climate.
He dismissed the veracity of Jabbari’s intent, with the bombastic language reflecting a broader power vacuum and internal uncertainty within Iran.
He told reporters that such “vitriolic rhetoric” often intensifies during periods of internal transition and should be assessed with caution rather than alarm.
“Our defence mechanisms are on guard for any scenario,” Palmas said, adding that all developments are being monitored in real time in cooperation with allies.
The Iranian comments followed a day of heightened alert in Cyprus, after authorities confirmed that two unmanned aerial vehicles heading towards the British bases at Akrotiri had been intercepted.
The incident came hours after a small drone struck the runway area of RAF Akrotiri, causing minor material damage but no injuries.
Letymbiotis repeatedly stressed that the presence of foreign forces on the island relates primarily to humanitarian operations and not to offensive military action.