Iranian drone hits runway of UK base in Cyprus

March 02, 2026 / 12:40 PM

Sharjah24- AFP: An Iranian drone struck the runway of a British military base in Cyprus on Monday, causing minor material damage and raising concerns as tensions linked to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran spread across the region. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed that a Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into facilities at the British base in Akrotiri shortly after midnight.

UK confirms runway strike and precautionary measures

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the unmanned drone specifically targeted the airport runway. She noted that precautionary measures were immediately implemented at the base, though further operational details were not disclosed.

EU expresses full support for Cyprus

The European Union responded swiftly, with EU President Ursula von der Leyen affirming strong and unequivocal support for member states facing threats. Christodoulides emphasised that Cyprus was not involved in any military operations and did not intend to participate in the conflict.

US use of British bases and UK position

Britain had agreed to allow US forces to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missiles and launchers. RAF Akrotiri, located near Limassol, is a British overseas territory. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that Britain was not involved in offensive strikes on Iran but was supporting collective self-defence to protect allies and regional stability.