Raf Akrotiri: Two drones intercepted after Sunday strike on raf akrotiri, Cyprus says
Two unmanned aerial vehicles heading for raf akrotiri were intercepted on Monday, officials in Cyprus said, after a drone struck the British base overnight on Sunday with no casualties and "minimal damage. " The interceptions and fresh alarms prompted shelter orders for base employees and flight cancellations across the country.
Cypriot spokesman and the intercepted drones
A Cypriot government spokesperson said two unmanned aerial vehicles were travelling in the direction of the British base and were successfully intercepted on Monday. Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis posted that the two drones were heading toward the British base at the time they were intercepted.
Timeline: Sunday strike and midnight timing
The interception came after a drone struck the base overnight on Sunday, at around midnight local time (22: 00 GMT), an attack Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides later said involved an Iranian drone. Authorities said there were no casualties and the incident caused "minimal damage. " Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes.
Alarms, employee warnings and Paphos disruption
On Monday, employees at the base received a message warning of an "ongoing security threat" and were separately told to stay away from windows and to take shelter behind furniture. Sirens were reported in the area, with sirens heard at RAF Akrotiri exactly twelve hours after the drone struck the base. An alarm was also raised at Paphos Airport after a suspected drone was spotted in the airspace and evacuation instructions were given.
Sovereign Base Areas Administration measures and local support
The Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed it was planning the "temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel" from RAF Akrotiri and said it was working with the Republic of Cyprus and local authorities to support any Akrotiri residents who are looking to temporarily leave the village. The administration had earlier said family members would be moved to alternative accommodation as a precautionary measure following Sunday's attack.
Broader warnings, cancellations and political reactions
The US embassy in Cyprus warned of a possible drone threat in the Paphos region. EasyJet cancelled all flights to and from the country on Monday. President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen said she had been briefed on Sunday's attack by the Cypriot president 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. "
Investigation status and official comments
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told a morning programme the government was still investigating the incident, with the Ministry of Defence assessing details including the source, locations and timings. Cooper said the pattern of recent Iranian drone and missile strikes across other regions highlighted the seriousness of what she described as the reckless behaviour of the Iranian regime. The has contacted the MoD for comment.
