'Russian-made' Syrian anti-aircraft missile explodes near northern Cyprus village during Israeli strikes

Turkish Cypriot officials said a Syrian anti-aircraft missile that missed its target during Israeli airstrikes was the likely cause of an explosion outside a village in the north.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

01 July, 2019

The debris found were pieces of a Russian-made S-200 missile [Getty]

Turkish Cypriot officials said on Monday that a Syrian anti-aircraft missile that missed its target and reached Cyprus around 193 kilometres away was the likely cause of an explosion outside a village in the breakaway north.

No injuries were reported.

Ersin Tatar, the north's prime minister, told a news conference that debris found near the village of Tashkent where the pre-dawn explosion happened were pieces of a Russian-made S-200 missile.

"The first assessment is that a Russian-made missile, which was part of the air defence system that took place last night in the face of an air attack against Syria, completed its range and fell into our country after it missed," Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Ozersay said in a Facebook post on Monday.

Tashkent lies on the foothills of the east Mediterranean island's Pendataktylos mountain range.

Police have cordoned off the main debris field.

At least five pieces of missile debris have been found in two nearby villages.

Fire crews contained a blaze that flaming debris ignited outside the village.

Tatar said there was no reason for alarm that this could soon happen again and assured there were no risks to public health since there were no poisonous or toxic emissions from the missile.

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