An Iranian-made drone struck the airfield at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus during the early hours of Sunday night, according to official statements from Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus.
The drone was identified as Iranian; however, it remains uncertain whether it was launched directly from Iran or from another location in the region.
The incident occurred late Sunday evening within the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is legally designated as British territory in Cyprus.
A loud explosion was reported shortly before midnight, prompting military officials to issue a “security threat” alert.
This alert instructed all personnel at the base to promptly return to their accommodations, stay indoors, avoid windows, and take cover behind sturdy furniture to ensure their safety.
Subsequent assessments confirmed that a “small drone” had impacted the airfield. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties among the personnel, but the drone strike did result in minor damage to the airfield’s infrastructure, raising concerns about the facility’s security in light of potential future threats.
Security experts believe the drone involved in the attack was a Shahed-136, a type of one-way attack drone known to have been used extensively by Russian forces in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
In response to the incident, all personnel at RAF Akrotiri were ordered to remain sheltered as a precaution, amid warnings that additional drone strikes could possibly occur in the area. RAF Akrotiri serves as a base for British, American, and Israeli personnel, playing a vital role in regional air operations and intelligence gathering.
This drone strike coincides with statements made by UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, who has reiterated that British military engagement in the Middle East is strictly defensive in nature. He emphasised that RAF jets deployed from Qatar are operating solely for defensive purposes, and that the UK has not participated in any offensive military actions.
The implications of the drone strike have been described by security sources as a “wake-up call” for the UK, underscoring the expanding geographic scope of military confrontation in the region and the increasing threats posed by unmanned aerial vehicles in modern warfare.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Our Armed Forces are responding to a suspected drone strike at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at midnight local time.
Our force protection in the region is at the highest level and the base has responded to defend our people.
“This is a live situation and further information will be provided in due course.”
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