The French Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle heads to the Eastern Mediterranean. File photo. Credit: AMNA

The United States has authorized the departure of non-essential government personnel and their families from Cyprus, while urging American citizens to reconsider travel to the island due to heightened security risks linked to the expanding conflict with Iran.

In a security alert issued Wednesday, the US State Department cited “a risk to their safety” as regional hostilities intensify and military activity increases across neighboring nations.

The directive affects staff at the US Embassy in Cyprus and follows a similar elevation of security alerts for US personnel in Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The State Department has raised its travel advisory for Cyprus to Level 3, citing both the threat of armed conflict and limited embassy assistance in the occupied area administered by Turkish Cypriot authorities.

Officials reiterated that the voluntary departure authorization follows significant disruptions to commercial flights since the onset of US-Iran hostilities on February 28. The advisory also confirmed that a drone struck a building near British bases in Cyprus on March 2.

International military presence on Cyprus

In response, international military presence on the island has surged:

• France: President Emmanuel Macron has ordered the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its naval strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean, and French air defense assets have been deployed to the island.
• Greece: Two frigates, the Kimon and the Psara, have arrived in Limassol, while four Greek F-16 fighter jets have been placed on high alert at the Paphos airbase.
•  The United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the deployment of the destroyer HMS Dragon and Wildcat helicopters to secure British bases. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that Royal Air Force F-35s, believed to be operating from Cyprus, shot down drones in Jordanian airspace on Tuesday to defend British and allied interests. Starmer emphasized that US forces are not using these facilities.

Air travel disruptions persist, with operator Hermes reporting 24 cancellations at Larnaca Airport on Wednesday. Major carriers, including British Airways, Lufthansa, EasyJet, and Austrian Airlines, have suspended services to and from the island nation.

Related: Greece and Cyprus Reactivate Common Defense Doctrine