As Israelis scrambled for shelter at the sound of daily air raid sirens, a very different scene was unfolding just 300 km (185 miles) away on the southeastern coast of Cyprus. There, locals and tourists are flocking to rooftops, promenades and beachfront bars—not to take cover but to watch the spectacle of missiles and intercepts lighting up the sky over Israel.
“It’s crazy—we can see everything from here,” a Finnish tourist in Ayia Napa told Ynet, noting how watching the aerial clashes has become a nightly routine. “People just stand on balconies and the boardwalk and watch the missiles and intercepts. What you’re going through over there is terrible. We hope it ends soon.”
Iranian missile interceptions seen from Cyprus
Local Cypriot media have also reported the nightly gatherings in cities like Larnaca, Ayia Napa and Limassol. The missile trails and interceptor flashes are clearly visible over the sea, forming what some are calling an eerie “light show.”
A viral TikTok video uploaded by a British tourist captured the phenomenon. Overlayed text read: “POV: You’re having a nice drink in Cyprus and then you see Iranian missiles heading towards Israel.” Asked by viewers whether there was any danger, she replied, “No need to worry, you just sometimes see it from afar.”
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The visibility is made possible by the high altitude and combustion trail of ballistic missiles, especially medium- and long-range ones, which can ascend tens or even hundreds of kilometers into the sky. Their powerful engines leave bright trails of flame that are particularly vivid against the night sky.
An optical effect known as the “twilight phenomenon” further enhances the view: even after sunset on the ground, upper atmospheric layers remain lit by indirect sunlight, casting glowing hues—orange, pink, even purple—on smoke trails and particles from the launches
Amid the growing tension, the Cypriot Interior Ministry took the unusual step this week of publishing a list of public shelters. The move comes amid fears Iran could target British military bases on the island, which Tehran accuses of aiding Israeli missile interception and intelligence gathering efforts.
Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis have traveled to Cyprus in recent days from third countries, hoping to stay close to home in case of mass evacuations—either by air or by sea.