Cyprus base struck and two drones intercepted as officials warn of escalating strikes
A Royal Air Force base on cyprus was struck overnight by a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle that caused minor damage but no casualties, and on Monday authorities said two more drones heading toward RAF Akrotiri were intercepted before they reached the facility.
British base in Cyprus hit by drone strike
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed that a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into military facilities at RAF Akrotiri at 12: 03 a. m. local time, causing limited damage and no injuries. He told officials and European counterparts that Cyprus does not participate in and does not intend to be part of any military operation.
Two drones intercepted before reaching RAF Akrotiri
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said in a post on X that two unmanned aerial vehicles were travelling in the direction of the British base when they were successfully intercepted on Monday. Employees at the base received a message warning of an "ongoing security threat" as sirens were reported in the area.
What personnel and local sites were told to do
The Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed it was planning the temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel from RAF Akrotiri, and the U. K. Ministry of Defence had earlier said family members would be moved to alternative accommodation as a precaution. On Monday, base employees were instructed to stay away from windows and take shelter behind furniture.
Alarm at Paphos Airport and warnings for residents
An alarm was raised at Paphos Airport after a suspected drone was spotted in the airspace; evacuation instructions were issued at the airport. The U. S. embassy in cyprus also warned of a possible drone threat in the Paphos region, and local authorities received formal alerts while an investigation continued.
U. K. and European reactions as officials probe the strike
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had said he would allow the United States to use British military bases to "destroy [Iranian] missiles at source, " and earlier the U. K. agreed to a U. S. request to use British bases for "defensive" strikes. U. K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government was still investigating the incident and that the Ministry of Defence was assessing details including the source, locations and timings. Cooper also criticized what she called a pattern of Iranian drone and missile strikes across the region.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had been briefed by President Christodoulides and wrote that "while the Republic of Cyprus was not the target, let me be clear: we stand collectively, firmly and unequivocally with our Member States in the face of any threat. "
Wider context and diplomatic follow-up
Cypriot they will make formal representations to the United Kingdom over how Sunday's incident was handled locally, with concerns focused on information sharing with local authorities and residents in the wider Akrotiri area. Officials also noted that this is the first time a U. K. base on Cyprus has been hit since a rocket attack by Libyan militants in 1986.
