September 3, 2013 (TSR) – Britain will supply intelligence to America for their planned strikes against Syria from a base in Cyprus, Cypriot media reported on Monday quoting the Sunday Times.
According to the paper, the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) will use the listening post operated by the Army’s 9 Signal Regiment at Ayios Nikolaos. The top secret base, which includes living quarters for British servicemen and their families, is located near the Green line, two miles east of the town of Famagusta and 15 kilometres north of Ayia Napa. Land around the base, which is heavily guarded, is scattered with satellites, radar facilities and radio masts. The unit also provides UK Armed Forces and the United Nations Forces with electronic warfare support and command and control systems.
The Sunday Times reported that: “Ayios Nikolaos will help to keep the US abreast of vital signals traffic between the regime of President Assad and his military commanders.” British sources confirmed to the paper that intelligence-sharing would continue, unaffected by a Commons vote rejected action last week. In August 2012, the Times reported that British bases were providing Syrian rebels with vital intelligence information.
Last Thursday the UK sent six RAF Typhoon jets to Akrotiri to defend the strategically important bases on the island against potential retaliatory attacks from the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
