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A missile has crashed into a mountain in Cyprus causing loud bangs which were heard for miles around.

The missile, reported to have been made in Russia, exploded into a fireball over tourist hotspot Nicosia in the early hours of this morning.

Residents have reported lights in the sky and three loud bangs as emergency services were sent to deal with fires on the mountainside.

The incident took place at around 1am local time, reports The Mirror.

It appears the missile was fired from an air-defence system guarding against an Israeli strike on Syria and it is the first time Cyprus has been caught in the crosshairs of the war in Syria.

Turkish Cypriot foreign minister Kudret Ozersay said it appears a Russian-made missile missed its target and fell onto the Eastern Mediterranean island, which is just 70 miles from Syria's west coast.

Cyprus is a popular tourist destination, with regular flights to and from Bristol Airport.