us warplane — Concerns have been raised regarding the ‘unusual movements’ of a US warplane in Cypriot airspace. The aircraft, a Boeing C-17 belonging to the United States Air Force, was observed taking off from Paphos airport on Tuesday, shortly before landing at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport less than an hour later.
A coalition of non-governmental organisations in Cyprus, including activist group Afoa and pro-Palestine entities such as BDS Cyprus, Genocide-Free Cyprus, and United for Palestine Cyprus, has alleged that the island is being used as a stopover point for transporting unknown cargo and personnel from the US Al Udeid airbase in Qatar to Israel.
The aircraft has been seen making multiple trips between Al Udeid and Israel, with its transponder turned off on several occasions. This has left observers unable to track its exact location, raising suspicions about its operations. One such incident led the organisations to question whether the plane actually landed in Paphos or diverted to the nearby Mari naval base, although this is deemed unlikely as the C-17 cannot land at Mari.
After reappearing on radar an hour later, the C-17 was again recorded en route to Israel. Following its departure from Israel, flight data suggested the aircraft conducted what the groups referred to as a “phantom landing” in Cyprus. This tactic, they claim, involved flying at low altitude near an airport to create the illusion of landing, while actually maintaining a direct flight path between the US base and Israel.
The organisations noted that the altitude readings of the C-17 never dropped to zero, further indicating that it did not land in Paphos but merely passed over the region. They expressed scepticism regarding the nature of the flights, asserting that they were “almost certainly not related to humanitarian aid.” They argued that a US military cargo aircraft would not undertake such clandestine journeys if its purpose were truly humanitarian.
The cloak of secrecy surrounding the C-17’s movements has led these groups to conclude that military aid is being transported through Cypriot facilities. They contend that by allowing such flights and enabling operations from the island to assist the US and Israel, the Cypriot government has effectively compromised its sovereignty, transforming the island into an unwitting accomplice in alleged acts of violence.
In their statement, they claimed, “by permitting such flights and enabling operations from the island to aid the US and Israel, the Cypriot government has effectively abdicated its sovereignty, turning the island into a silent accomplice in genocide.” This assertion adds a complex layer to the geopolitical dynamics involving Cyprus, the US, and Israel, as local organisations push for transparency and accountability regarding military operations in the region.