RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was targeted in a suspected drone strike late Sunday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed Monday, as regional tensions escalate following a series of attacks in the Middle East.
The MoD stated that its armed forces were responding to the incident, which occurred at approximately midnight local time. “Our force protection in the region is at the highest level and the base has responded to defend our people,” a spokesperson said. The MoD added that the situation remains “live” and further details would be released as they develop into available.
While initial reports indicated minor damage, the MoD confirmed there were no casualties. In response to the attack, non-essential staff are being temporarily relocated from the base, according to the MoD.
The UK government has not yet publicly identified the origin of the drone. Although, the incident follows a period of heightened conflict sparked by the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran against regional allies and adversaries.
The suspected drone strike occurred hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK would permit the United States to utilize British military bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites. Sky News reported that RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, and Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago have been authorized for this purpose.
The Liberal Democrats have voiced concerns over the decision, warning of a potential “slippery slope” that could draw Britain into a wider conflict.
A spokesperson for the Cypriot government indicated that the incident involved an unmanned drone and resulted in “limited damage,” according to Reuters.
The armed forces had been reinforcing defenses at its bases in Cyprus prior to the incident, deploying additional resources including counter-drone systems, F-35 fighter jets, and radar capabilities. The MoD emphasized that these measures were purely defensive, intended to detect and neutralize airborne threats.
Sky News reported that the drone involved in the attack on RAF Akrotiri was relatively small. Hostilities in the Middle East are now entering their third day, with the US and Israel continuing operations against Iranian targets. More than 200,000 British nationals, including military personnel, are believed to be at risk in the Gulf region as Iran continues to launch missiles at its neighbors.
