US authorises departure of non-essential personnel from Cyprus

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

In a security alert issued on Wednesday, the US state department said the decision was taken “due to a risk to their safety,” as regional hostilities intensify and military activity increases across neighbouring countries.

The advisory applies to staff at the US Embassy in Cyprus and follows similar  elevation of security risk levels for Americans in Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The department said it has raised its travel advisory for Cyprus to Level 3, advising US citizens to reconsider travel “due to the threat of armed conflict and the limited assistance of the US Embassy to Americans in the area administered by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.”

It reiterated that non-essential employees and their families were authorised to depart because of security risks, adding that since the start of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28 there have been “significant disruptions to commercial flights.”

The advisory also confirmed that a drone struck a building in the area of the British Bases in Cyprus on March 2.

Regarding the north, the state department said the US Embassy in Nicosia has limited capacity to assist US citizens there, noting that “human rights reports show that central prisons and police detention centres do not meet international standards.”

US citizens were urged to enter and exit Cyprus only through Larnaca and Paphos airports, or via the ports of Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos.

 “The Republic of Cyprus does not consider entry or exit through Ercan airport or from a port in the north to be legal,” the statement said, warning that Americans leaving via Tymbou (Ercan) may face difficulties on future returns to the government controlled areas.

The directive further cautioned that US citizens cannot obtain a residence permit from the Republic of Cyprus to live in the Turkish Cypriot-administered area, adding that residence permits issued by Turkish Cypriot authorities are not recognised.

Travellers who arrive via a northern port or airport, or who remain in the north for more than 90 days, may be denied entry to the republic.

The government has sought to play down the significance of the US move, describing the updated directive as a standard precautionary procedure applied by the US state department when assessing regional developments.

It stressed the measure represents the “mildest level of action available” and does not involve the removal of personnel or indicate the existence of any immediate threat.

Instead, it allows family members of diplomats or a limited number of non-essential staff to depart temporarily, should they choose to do so.

They drew a clear distinction between an “authorised departure” and a “mandatory departure”, stressing that the latter, which requires personnel to leave, has been implemented in several Middle Eastern and Gulf states but does not apply to Cyprus.

France has recently deployed air defence assets to the island, while President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, along with accompanying naval forces, has been ordered to the eastern Mediterranean.

Greece has also reinforced its presence, with two frigates, the Kimon and the Psara, arriving in Limassol and four Greek F-16 fighter jets placed on high readiness at Paphos airbase.

The UK defence ministry confirmed that Royal Air Force F-35 jets, believed to be operating from Cyprus, shot down drones in Jordanian airspace on Tuesday in defence of British and allied interests.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the deployment of the destroyer HMS Dragon and Wildcat helicopters to protect British bases on the island, while stressing that US forces are not using those facilities.

Air travel disruptions further continue with airport operator Hermes reporting 24 arrivals and departures at Larnaca Airport being cancelled on Wednesday, with major airlines including British Airways, Lufthansa, EasyJet and Austrian Airlines suspending services to and from Cyprus.

Passengers have been advised to contact airlines or travel agents before heading to the airport.