The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in Cyprus was struck in a suspected Iranian drone attack overnight, the island’s president and Britain’s Ministry of Defence said, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to allow the United States to use UK bases in strikes on Iran.
President Nikos Christodoulides said all competent services were on alert and at full operational readiness, adding that a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle caused minor damage when it crashed into military facilities at 12:03am (22:00 GMT). “I want to be clear, our country does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation,” he said.
Akrotiri, southwest of Limassol, is one of two bases the UK retained after Cypriot independence in 1960. It includes military facilities and homes for families of serving personnel. Base authorities told residents near Akrotiri to shelter in place after a “suspected drone impact”, said non-essential personnel would be dispersed, and that other British facilities would continue to operate normally.
The base, on a square-shaped peninsula at Cyprus’s southern tip, has been used in past operations in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The early-morning attack — the first on the British military facility — marks an escalation in the conflict, now into its third day.
The UK Defence Ministry confirmed the incident, describing it as a “live situation”. A ministry spokesperson said force protection in the region was at the highest level and the base had responded to defend personnel.
It was unclear where the suspected Shahed drone was launched from. The incident followed Starmer’s decision to help Washington in operations against Iran, a move the UK had initially resisted over legal concerns. Two anonymous sources told Reuters a second drone was intercepted by UK bases, which Al Jazeera could not verify.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU stands “collectively, firmly and unequivocally” with its member states facing any threat. While Akrotiri is regarded as British sovereign territory, Cyprus is an EU member and currently holds the bloc’s rotating presidency.
