Suspected agent ‘with links to Revolutionary Guard’ caught photographing UK’s most crucial Middle East airbase with long-lens camera
A British man with alleged links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been arrested on suspicion of plotting an imminent terrorist attack on RAF Akrotiri, Britain’s most important military base in the Middle East.
The suspected spy was detained on Friday following intelligence that he was planning to strike the strategic airbase in Cyprus, which has been crucial for UK operations across the region.
Cyprus police revealed the man had been conducting surveillance on both RAF Akrotiri and Cyprus’s own Andreas Papandreou Air Base since mid-April, raising fears of a coordinated intelligence operation targeting allied military facilities.
Living In The Shadows
The suspect, who local media report is of Azerbaijani ethnic descent, had been living in a flat in Zakai, Limassol – strategically located just minutes from RAF Akrotiri.
He was observed near the base carrying a camera with a long lens and three mobile phones, according to the Philenews website, which first broke the story.
Witnesses reported seeing the man walking near RAF Akrotiri “almost daily”, conducting what authorities now believe was systematic surveillance of the base’s operations and defences.
Eight-Day Detention
The man appeared before a district court on Saturday, which ordered an eight-day detention pending inquiries. Police cited national security concerns for not releasing further details about the case.
A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed: “We are in contact with the authorities in Cyprus regarding the arrest of a British man.”
The arrest comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with Israel and Iran engaged in direct military conflict and Cyprus serving as a crucial transit point for evacuations from the region.
Strategic Target
RAF Akrotiri’s significance cannot be overstated. The base serves as:
- Britain’s primary launching pad for Middle East operations
- Home to surveillance, logistics, and combat missions
- Base for 84 Squadron’s search and rescue operations
- Key staging post for operations in Iraq, Syria, and Libya
The base has played crucial roles in recent conflicts, from the 2006 Lebanon War evacuations to ongoing operations against ISIS and monitoring of regional tensions.
Double Surveillance
More alarming still, Cyprus’s ANT1 news portal reports the suspect had also been monitoring Cyprus’s Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos since mid-April.
The Paphos base, located approximately 10km from the city, houses:
- The 55th Combat Group
- 450 Attack Helicopter Squadron
- 460 Search and Rescue Squadron
- 457 Air Defence Squadron
- 470 UAV Squadron
This dual surveillance suggests a sophisticated intelligence operation targeting both British and Cypriot military capabilities.
Iran Connection
The alleged links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps raise serious concerns about Tehran’s intelligence operations in the Mediterranean.
The IRGC, designated a terrorist organization by several countries, has been accused of conducting covert operations across the Middle East and beyond.
Cyprus’s strategic location – just 184 kilometers from Beirut – makes it an ideal intelligence target for regional powers seeking to monitor Western military movements.
Terror on the Island
Terror-related offences on Cyprus are extremely rare, making this arrest particularly significant.
The island has recently been used as a transit point for people fleeing the Israel-Iran conflict, with thousands evacuated through Cyprus in recent days.
Security sources suggest the timing of the alleged plot may be linked to the ongoing regional conflict and increased military activity at both bases.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time Iranian intelligence has been linked to operations targeting Western interests:
- 2012: Iranian agents plotted attacks on Israeli tourists in Cyprus
- 2018: Two Iranian nationals arrested for photographing Israeli targets
- 2021: Azerbaijani man detained on suspicion of working for Iran
The pattern suggests Cyprus remains a key battleground for intelligence operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Security Implications
The arrest will likely trigger:
- Enhanced security measures at British bases
- Review of counter-intelligence procedures
- Increased cooperation between UK and Cypriot authorities
- Potential diplomatic fallout with Iran
Military analysts warn that the incident demonstrates the vulnerability of overseas bases to hostile intelligence gathering, particularly during times of regional conflict.
RAF AKROTIRI: BRITAIN’S UNSINKABLE AIRCRAFT CARRIER
Established: 1956 Location: Western Sovereign Base Area, Cyprus Role: Permanent Joint Operating Base Key Operations: Iraq, Syria, Libya, Lebanon evacuations Strategic Value: Only UK base between Gibraltar and IndiaPersonnel: Classified Aircraft: Various fighter jets, transport, and surveillance aircraft
