"Residents in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia voiced concerns on Saturday over rising regional tensions following a strike on the British air base at RAF Akrotiri, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to reverberate across the eastern Mediterranean. A drone attack targeted the base through the night of February 28, prompting European allies to strengthen air defences on the island, which hosts several foreign military bases used for operations in the region. “There is a risk of the war expanding even further, with potential flashpoints of conflict involving Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. The fact that both sides are seeking to strengthen their military lines within Cyprus itself is, on its own, indicative of this escalation,” said local resident Markos Oikonomou. Some residents criticised the presence of foreign military bases on the island in the first place. “Our concern is not only about the bases themselves or about chanting ‘bases out.’ It is also about going to the Presidential Palace and asking the government to do what Spain did,” said Myroula Stefanidi. “We do not want American bases either, because it is not only the British bases that exist. The Andreas Papandreou base is one as well, and we want that to leave too.” Others warned that the situation could have economic consequences for ordinary Cypriots. “Prices were already high before the war. In Cyprus, prices had increased significantly, and now, using the war as an excuse, everything has become even more expensive,” said another local, Maro Antona. While Cypriot officials say the island is not directly involved in the conflict, its strategic location has heightened concerns about possible escalation. UK Defence Secretary John Healey arrived in Cyprus on Thursday to meet his Cypriot counterpart Vasilis Palmas, after the drone attack prompted a partial evacuation of the military facility. Two more drones were intercepted on Monday, believed to have been launched by the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. In response to the strike and the continued threat of ballistic missiles, two Greek frigates arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday, with British and French naval units also expected to contribute to maritime patrols and counter-drone monitoring off the island. But some are sceptical of their reasoning. “The European ships and aircraft that arrived in Cyprus are not here to protect Cyprus. They are here to protect the bases and Israel. After the Americans lost some radar systems, they urgently needed radar coverage, so these ships came to protect those interests and to replace what had been lost,” explained Christos Christofidis. The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Tehran responded with strikes targeting Israel and US assets across the region, with explosions reported in several countries across the Gulf. The escalation followed several rounds of talks between American and Iranian officials aimed at addressing tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme - Tehran has always insisted on its peaceful nature."