An Iranian drone crashed into a British RAF base in Cyprus on Sunday, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has said.
It follows the Ministry of Defence (MoD) reporting a “suspected drone strike” at RAF Akrotiri at around midnight local time (22:00 GMT).
No casualties were reported and the base sustained “minimal damage”, but the MoD said family members at the base would be moved to alternative accommodation as a precautionary measure.
“Our force protection in the region is at the highest level and the base has responded to defend our people,” it said.
It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes.
“Our base and personnel continue to operate as normal protecting the safety of Britain and our interests,” an MoD spokesperson said on Monday morning.
The Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed that it was planning the “temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel” from RAF Akrotiri Station.
The temporary dispersal notice would only apply to the military base, it said, adding that there was no need for residents to leave the nearby Akrotiri village.
“All other locations, workplaces, businesses and facilities will remain open as normal and there are no restrictions in place,” the statement read.
President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she had been briefed on the attack by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
“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,” she said in a statement on social media.
The latest conflict began on Saturday morning when Israel and the US launched a “massive” and ongoing attack against Iran’s leadership and military, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei among those killed.
