A few extra dry days are the last thing you’d expect to cause a row on the sun-kissed Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

But the Royal Air Force has reportedly been accused by the Cypriot government of interfering with the weather – so its Tornado and Typhoon aircraft can fly missions to Syria and Iraq in clear conditions.

The bizarre claim emerged after local weathermen forecast heavy rain for early February only for the period to remain dry.

Akrotiri RAF base: The Royal Air Force has reportedly been accused by the Cypriot government of interfering with the weather – so its Tornado and Typhoon aircraft can fly missions to Syria and Iraq in clear conditions

RAF Tornado: British forces have been accused of cloud-seeding – a technique using a chemical to divert rain clouds. Agriculture minister Nicos Kouyialis is said to have ordered an official inquiry

Last night, an island newspaper reported that the Cypriot government was accusing British forces of cloud-seeding – a technique using a chemical to divert rain clouds.

Agriculture minister Nicos Kouyialis is said to have ordered an official inquiry.

He also reportedly told a Cypriot parliamentary committee: ‘Such actions could change the climate of the region as they may change the earth’s atmosphere.

Chemical substances freed in the air could potentially change the ability of the atmosphere to produce rain.’

The Ministry of Defence said: ‘There is no truth in these claims and the MoD is not aware of any inquiry.’