CYPRUS: Increased activity at Royal Air Force base in Cyprus where British actions on Libya are being coordinated

Record ID: 731405

  • Title: CYPRUS: Increased activity at Royal Air Force base in Cyprus where British actions on Libya are being coordinated
  • Date: 21st March 2011
  • Summary: AKROTIRI, CYPRUS (MARCH 20 2011) (REUTERS) BRITISH AKROTIRI AIR FORCE BASE, BARBED WIRED IN FOREGROUND, AIR FORCE BASE IN BACKGROUND HERCULES C-130 TAXIING ON RUNWAY HERCULES C-130 TAKING OFF HERCULES C-130 IN THE AIR TWO AWACS SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT SITTING ON RUNWAY A U2 SPY PLANE FLYING IN THE AIR AFTER HAVING TAKEN OFF MORE OF U2 SPY PLANE IN THE AIR VARIOUS OF RAF TRISTAR TRANSPORT AND AIR -TO-AIR REFUELLING PLANE ARRIVING TRISTAR AIRCRAFT LANDING AND TAXIING ON RUNWAY
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cyprus, Cyprus
  • Country: Cyprus
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA9UNSYLOOF8H3HJ5S45HZYN7OD
  • Story Text: There was incoming and outgoing traffic at the British Akrotiri Airforce Base in Cyprus on Sunday (March 20) the command centre for coordination of British forces action in Libya.
    Extra personnel have been brought into the base for the coordination operation of British air assets in the operation for Libya.
    Britain joined the operation against Libya on Saturday with air and missile attacks on the country.
    A TriStar aircraft, based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, was seen arriving at the base, which operates for air transport and air-to-air refuelling roles.
    AWACS surveillance, command and communication planes were already moving in and out of the base, while a U2 spyplane was seen leaving the base.
    A Hercules C-130 transport plane was also seen leaving the base.
    British base officials have said no Tornado or Typhoon combat aircraft were being deployed from the base, and it would continue to operate as the command centre for coordination of operations as long as was needed.
    Cyprus said on Sunday it opposed any use of British bases on the island to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya.
    Britain has two sovereign military bases on Cyprus.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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