Nicosia was informed over the surprise visit to Akrotiri RAF base by British prime minister David Cameron late on Thursday, government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said on Friday. Christodoulides also said that information about the visit was forwarded late on Thursday because of security concerns. And that President Anastasiades had received a call from Britain’s defence minister as well thanking him over the very constructive role Cyprus plays in the fight against the Islamic State.
During his 90-minute-long stopover to Akrotiri, Cameron announced that two more fighter jets will be deployed at the British air base to join others flying missions against Islamic State group targets in Iraq. The deployment will bring the number of Tornado aircraft now deployed at Akrotiri base to eight.
Cameron also said the additional warplanes will help “keep up the tempo” of airstrikes aiming to beat back the extremist group and to “save lives in Iraq,”. Cameron’s decision to fly to the base suggests he believes the campaign is not likely to end soon. He said he had come to Cyprus to thank the pilots personally for the dangerous work they were undertaking: “
Less than a week into combat operations in Iraq, I wanted to come here to thank our troops for the vital work they’re doing to defeat these barbaric Isil terrorists who threaten security not just in Iraq, Syria and the region, but on the streets of Britain too.”
Immediately after his visit to Cyprus, Cameron flew to Afghanistan where he held a joint press conference with the country’s second elected president Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Friday morning. Cameron pledged support for Afghanistan’s newly sworn-in president and the country’s new unity government, saying during the visit to Kabul that Britain is committed to helping Afghans build a more secure and prosperous future.
