分类： world

BRUSSELS (AP) — European nations are being reluctantly drawn into the escalating Middle East conflict between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran, despite having no direct involvement in initiating hostilities. The continent now finds itself compelled to implement defensive measures to safeguard military installations and coordinate evacuation operations for thousands of citizens trapped in conflict zones.

The strategic importance of the Middle East to European interests cannot be overstated. The region serves as a critical trading partner and contains vital maritime routes essential for global commerce. Significant European populations reside in cities including Beirut, Dubai, and Jerusalem, while substantial Middle Eastern communities have established roots across European nations. This deep interconnection means European countries inevitably face consequences from a conflict they did not authorize.

Britain, France, and Germany have declared their intention to collaborate with the United States in countering Iranian offensive capabilities, while explicitly avoiding direct combat participation. Notably, the United Kingdom has authorized American forces to utilize British military bases for operations targeting Iranian missile launch sites.

The conflict’s proximity to Europe became alarmingly evident when a Shahed-type drone—an Iranian-developed weapon previously deployed by Russia in Ukraine—struck a British air base in Cyprus, the current holder of the EU’s rotating presidency. The incident forced Cypriot officials to publicly deny involvement in the hostilities. Consequently, several European nations have heightened security at transportation hubs including airports and rail stations.

European leadership remains predominantly supportive of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, viewing it as targeting a regime that has repeatedly arrested European citizens and challenged European economic interests. Spain emerged as a notable exception, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemning the military intervention as “unjustifiable, dangerous and outside of international law.”

Beyond immediate security concerns, Europe faces substantial economic vulnerabilities. Iran has threatened maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical choke point through which approximately 20% of globally traded oil passes. In response, France is deploying additional warships to reinforce Operation Aspides, the EU’s naval mission protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Discussions are underway regarding potential enhancements to the operation’s mandate and rules of engagement.

The European Union prioritizes preventing regional escalation that could trigger oil price surges and unpredictable migration patterns. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is scheduled to convene a meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers to reassure regional partners and coordinate diplomatic efforts. The EU remains committed to preventing Iranian nuclear weapon acquisition despite the collapse of the nuclear agreement following the U.S. withdrawal.

Regarding Iran’s political future, European officials expressed solidarity with the Iranian people’s aspirations for human rights and fundamental freedoms, while acknowledging it is premature to endorse specific leadership candidates. The EU has explicitly ruled out engagement with any leadership influenced by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which was recently added to the bloc’s terror list.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated on Monday that planned U.S.-mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine could be relocated from Abu Dhabi to alternative European venues such as Switzerland or Turkey. This potential shift stems from logistical complications arising from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Despite geopolitical tensions diverting international attention, Zelenskyy affirmed that Western military support to Ukraine remains uninterrupted. Specifically, he confirmed continued deliveries of critical air defense systems, including American-made Patriot missiles, which have proven vital in countering Russian aerial assaults.

The diplomatic efforts, spearheaded by the United States, persist in seeking resolution to the conflict that began with Russia’s February 2022 invasion. However, recent escalations involving U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran and subsequent missile exchanges have introduced new complexities to the peace process.

Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s successful defense against Russia’s winter campaign targeting energy infrastructure, though he acknowledged significant damage sustained. Russian tactics have now shifted toward attacking other critical infrastructure, including water supply systems.

In a related development, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to facilitate knowledge transfer between Ukrainian drone warfare experts and Persian Gulf nations seeking to counter Iranian drone technologies. Despite this proposal, Zelenskyy noted no formal requests had been received from the UK or other nations regarding such cooperation.

Cyprus remains on heightened security alert following a series of aerial incidents targeting RAF Akrotiri, a strategic British military installation on the Mediterranean island. The escalation comes amid broader regional hostilities between Iran and Western allies.

On Monday, Cypriot authorities confirmed the successful interception of two unmanned aerial vehicles heading toward the British base. This incident occurred just hours after a separate drone struck the facility overnight Sunday, causing minimal damage but no casualties.

The base implemented emergency protocols, instructing personnel to shelter away from windows and behind furniture as warning sirens sounded throughout the area. The UK Ministry of Defence initiated precautionary measures, including relocating family members to alternative accommodation and planning the temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel.

The tension extended beyond the military base, with Paphos Airport briefly raising alarms and issuing evacuation instructions after a suspected drone was spotted in its airspace. The US Embassy in Cyprus subsequently issued warnings about potential drone threats in the Paphos region.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides identified the Sunday attack as involving an Iranian drone, though officials emphasized that Cyprus itself was not the intended target. This assessment was corroborated by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a phone call with the Cypriot leader.

The incidents form part of a broader regional confrontation that began on Saturday when US and Israeli forces launched massive strikes against Iranian leadership and military targets, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded with ballistic missiles and drone attacks targeting US assets and allies across the Middle East.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey expressed concern about Iranian ‘indiscriminate attacks’ endangering British troops and civilians in the region. In a significant development, an RAF Typhoon jet operating from Qatar shot down an Iranian drone during a defensive air patrol—marking the first such engagement by a UK fighter since hostilities escalated.

Prime Minister Starmer confirmed the UK had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for defensive strikes, emphasizing the decision was based on ‘collective self-defence’ of allies and protecting British lives. The BBC understands RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean are likely staging points for US operations against Iranian missile sites.

The Cypriot government announced it would make formal representations to the UK regarding information sharing procedures during Sunday’s incident, highlighting concerns about coordination with local authorities and residents.

CYPRUS — The British government has emphatically declared that the United Kingdom remains in a non-belligerent status despite escalating Middle East tensions, even as Royal Air Force installations in Cyprus faced direct drone attacks and Britain authorized American forces to utilize UK bases for regional operations.

RAF Akrotiri, Britain’s pivotal Middle East operations hub, sustained a direct hit from an Iranian-manufactured drone late Sunday, marking the first time the Iran-Israel conflict has physically extended to European territory. While the strike resulted in no casualties and minimal infrastructure damage, it triggered renewed security alerts Monday as Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets scrambled in response to emerging threats.

The Cypriot government confirmed intercepting two drones headed toward the island nation, while base authorities circulated emergency alerts instructing personnel to remain indoors away from windows. The attack represents the first significant assault on Akrotiri since Libyan militants targeted the facility in 1986.

British leadership has walked a diplomatic tightrope, refusing to explicitly endorse U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran while simultaneously permitting American forces to utilize UK bases for targeting Iranian missile launch sites. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that Britain’s bases cannot be used for strikes on political or economic targets within Iran, stating: ‘We are not joining these strikes, but we will continue with our defensive actions in the region.’

The shadow of Iraq looms large over British decision-making, with the memory of the 2003 invasion that claimed 179 British lives and thousands of Iraqi and American casualties. Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer reiterated Britain’s defensive posture while acknowledging the necessity of countering Iranian ballistic threats: ‘Iran has ballistic missiles pointed at the Gulf and it is vital that those missile launchers are taken out.’

Critics within the governing Labour Party, including MP John McDonnell, warn that Britain risks repeating the same trajectory that led to full involvement in Iraq: ‘We are being drawn in, just as we were in Iraq, following the U.S. into an incredibly dangerous situation.’

The British military has reinforced Akrotiri with additional F-35s, advanced radar systems, and counter-drone technologies in recent weeks, while relocating military families to secure accommodations as tensions continue to mount.