Sovereign base areas lift drone and paragliding restrictions in Cyprus

The Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) administration in Cyprus has lifted a two-month ban on drones and restrictions on paragliding. These measures were originally implemented following a drone strike on RAF Akrotiri and related security concerns. While sources differ slightly on the specific incident dates, citing either March 1 or March 2 for the initial strike, authorities confirmed that multiple drones heading toward the base were intercepted. Following the initial attack, which investigations by the UK Ministry of Defence and Cypriot officials linked to a pro-Iran militia near Beirut, a comprehensive ban was issued on March 7 by the SBA, while the Republic of Cyprus implemented a nationwide ban on March 4. The restrictions prohibited civilian flights across these territories and within 12 nautical miles of the coastline to ensure clear airspace for military defense systems. The SBA stated that the goal was to prevent interference with monitoring efforts and to avoid misidentifying recreational activities as military threats. The decision to lift these restrictions aligns with similar actions taken by the Republic of Cyprus. The administration thanked the public for their cooperation throughout the duration of the ban.