An Iranian drone crashed inside the British military base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus around midnight on Sunday, according to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. No injuries were reported and damage was described as minimal.
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that, as a precaution, family members of personnel stationed at the base would be moved to alternative accommodation. On Monday, staff at the base were warned of an “ongoing security threat” and advised to stay away from windows and take shelter behind furniture.
Christodoulides stated that a Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle had crashed within the British Sovereign Base Area. Cyprus officials later said two drones heading toward RAF Akrotiri had been intercepted. The Sovereign Base Areas Administration announced a temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel from the station but clarified that nearby Akrotiri village residents did not need to evacuate.
Separately, an alarm was triggered at Paphos International Airport after a suspected drone was spotted in the airspace. The United States Embassy in Cyprus also warned of a potential drone threat in the Paphos region.
The incident follows a statement by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that Britain had agreed to a US request to allow the use of its military bases for “defensive” operations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had been briefed on the situation and reaffirmed the European Union’s solidarity with Cyprus.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said investigations were ongoing to determine the drone’s origin and timeline. She criticized what she described as reckless Iranian strikes across Gulf partners and regional allies.
Cyprus indicated it would formally address concerns with the UK over how information about the incident was shared locally, particularly with authorities and residents in the Akrotiri area.
The escalation comes amid a broader Middle East conflict that intensified after Israel and the United States launched major strikes against Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure. Iran has since responded with missile and drone attacks targeting US assets and allied countries in the region.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said British forces and civilians in the Middle East faced risks from “indiscriminate attacks.” He confirmed that, in separate incidents, UK forces had intercepted Iranian drones, including one shot down by an RAF Typhoon jet operating from Qatar.
Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that the UK was not involved in the initial offensive strikes against Iran and would not join offensive action, but justified cooperation with the US under the principle of collective self-defence and protection of British personnel.
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