Exclusive: Cyprus had advance warning of drone attack; terror suspects linked to Iran arrested in Larnaca
Cypriot security authorities had advance intelligence that a serious incident was imminent several days before the drone attack on the British Bases in the early hours of 2 March, Phileleftheros has learned from sources.
The Republic’s own services, along with cooperating foreign agencies, had placed a number of individuals under surveillance in the days leading up to the strike. According to sources whose information cannot be disputed, authorities had known from mid-last week that there were indications of individuals with suspicious activity linked to Iran and possibly to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Intelligence handled by Cyprus Police and a cooperating agency indicated that a UAV movement was being planned. While the intelligence was not specific about exactly what would occur, it was clear that drone-related incidents on Cypriot soil would follow. Emergency security measures were taken at locations with Israeli interests in Cyprus.
The arrests
The arrests of a couple in Larnaca on terrorism charges are directly consistent with the above intelligence picture, according to Phileleftheros sources. The two suspects are a 28-year-old Azerbaijani man and a 27-year-old Estonian woman.
Their arrest followed the evaluation of classified intelligence transmitted to police at the end of February, which was referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (TAE) at Police headquarters. The 28-year-old is suspected of having travelled repeatedly to Iran, with reasonable grounds to believe he was recruited by the IRGC.
Before being brought before a court for a detention order on 27 February, the pair were placed under physical surveillance, which police say revealed behaviour consistent with the tactics of trained agents. During their stay in Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca, they are alleged to have photographed specific locations extensively and from multiple angles — all sites in Paphos with a common thread: they are frequented by persons of Israeli origin. Investigators are examining whether the photographs were transmitted to a foreign contact.
Police believe the 28-year-old employed counter-surveillance techniques consistent with methods used by individuals previously investigated for identical cases. Although the pair presented themselves as tourists, they did not book their flights to Cyprus together. The 27-year-old is also suspected of providing cover for her alleged husband’s espionage activities.
They were arrested in Larnaca before their planned departure from Cyprus the previous Friday. Following a police request, a court issued an 8-day detention order last Wednesday. Personal belongings have been seized for forensic and other examination.
Linked to a shared handler
Cyprus Police links the 28-year-old to a specific handler who had previously recruited others to carry out terrorist acts in Iran’s interests. According to police intelligence, he allegedly shares the same handler as a 44-year-old Azerbaijani man with a British passport who was arrested in Cyprus on 21 June 2025 and is charged with terrorism and espionage.
That suspect faces charges of: espionage, publishing information relating to defence works, entering a prohibited area, and money laundering. He is alleged to have used an advanced camera and mobile phones to photograph RAF Akrotiri and the Andreas Papandreou airbase during the period of Israeli-Iranian air and missile strikes. His case has been filed at the Limassol Assize Court.
As Phileleftheros reported on 6 November last year, British law enforcement authorities submitted an official request to the Republic of Cyprus for cooperation in that case, sending their position in writing via Eurojust and requesting the establishment of a Joint Investigation Team for further investigation.
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