Follow Us on Google
By Lawrence Agbo
British and Cypriot officials disclosed on Monday that a drone strike occurred overnight at Britain’s Royal Air Force facility in Akrotiri, Cyprus, resulting in minor damage but no injuries.
A Shahed-style unmanned aerial vehicle struck the military facility just after midnight, at 12:03 a.m., according to Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, causing minor structural damage.
According to Christodoulides, all pertinent services were fully operationally prepared and on high alert.
“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 stated.
The incident was confirmed by the British Ministry of Defence, which also stated that no one was hurt.
Although it is yet unknown where the Iranian-made aircraft was launched, two people with knowledge of the situation told Reuters that British forces had intercepted a second drone.
The Cyprus drone strike represents a major escalation amid broader regional tensions, as it is the first attack on the Akrotiri base since a rocket assault by Libyan terrorists in 1986.
Other News
Akrotiri is one of two independent base areas that Britain kept after Cyprus attained independence in 1960.
It is situated on a peninsula at the southern tip of Cyprus, southwest of Limassol. Cyprus is a member of the European Union and currently holds the bloc’s rotating presidency, despite the bases being sovereign British territory.
The installation houses British service members’ families in addition to military facilities. After the walkout, authorities said that non-essential personnel would be distributed and urged local citizens to remain indoors.
Other British establishments on the island are still running smoothly.
In the past, British operations in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have used Akrotiri as a staging area.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Sunday that the country had granted the US request to use its bases for defensive operations against Iranian missile launch sites or depots.
The episode highlights the increasing likelihood that, as tensions rise, regional wars may spread to other areas.
