In 2008 U.S. and UK officials disagreed on using air base in Cyprus for spying, say the cables disclosed by WikiLeaks.

London protested about secret spy flights. However, UK position was swept aside by Americans, the Guardian writes.

British were seriously concerned over U2 spy plane missions over Hezbollah locations, as well as gathering intelligence over Turkey and northern Iraq. According to the cables, UK demanded the US embassy should provide full details of all flights from Akrotiri – UK’s Cyprus base.

“However, recent U2 flights over Turkey/Northern Iraq, and the Lebanon, have highlighted important legal and political issues which require much more careful consideration by HMG (Her Majesty’s Government). There are further forms of risk that we need to assess in putting the case for agreement to our Ministers, including the political risk that other governments become aware of, and potentially object to, the flights (hence our need to know flight profiles),”reads the document dated as of April 2008.