A drone strike hit Britain’s Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus overnight, causing minor damage but no casualties, Cypriot and British officials confirmed on Monday.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides stated that a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the military facility shortly after midnight, at 12:03 a.m., leading to limited structural damage. He emphasized that Cyprus is not participating in any military operations.
“I want to be clear: Our country does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation,” Christodoulides remarked, adding that all relevant services were on high alert and fully operational.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence acknowledged the incident, confirming that there were no injuries. Two sources familiar with the situation indicated to Reuters that British forces intercepted a second drone, though the origin of the Iranian-made aircraft remains uncertain.
This strike represents the first attack on the Akrotiri base since a rocket assault by Libyan militants in 1986, signaling a notable escalation amidst broader regional tensions.
Akrotiri, situated southwest of Limassol on a peninsula at Cyprus’s southern tip, is one of two sovereign base areas that Britain retained after Cyprus gained its independence in 1960. While the bases are British sovereign territory, Cyprus itself is a member of the European Union and is currently holding the bloc’s rotating presidency.
In addition to military infrastructure, the base houses families of British service personnel. Following the strike, authorities instructed nearby residents to shelter in place and announced that non-essential personnel would be relocated. Other British facilities on the island continue to function as usual.
Akrotiri has previously served as a launchpad for British operations in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. On Sunday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain had agreed to a US request to utilize its bases for defensive strikes targeting Iranian missile depots or launch sites.
The incident highlights the increasing risk of regional hostilities expanding into additional territories as tensions intensify.
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