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Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said an Iranian drone caused “minor material damage” to military installations inside the UK’s air base on the island
The RAF Akrotiri air base in Cyprus. (Reuters/File)
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has said that Greece is ready to defend Cyprus with “any possible means” after Iranian drones hit a British base there.
Two drones were intercepted in Cypriot airspace en route to the UK’s RAF Akrotiri air base, and RAF fighter jets were scrambled. Greece announced that it was sending two frigates and two F-16 jets to Cyprus to repel the attacks.
Earlier, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said a Shaheed-type drone caused “minor material damage” to military installations inside the UK’s air base on the island’s southern coast. He said the drone struck just past midnight on Monday.
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Christodoulides said all relevant authorities have been put on alert and that he has called a meeting of the country’s national security council to take stock of the situation. “I want to be clear: our homeland is not participating in any way, nor is its intention to take part in any military operation,” Christodoulides said in his address.
The drone strikes caused no casualties. Employees of the base received a message on Monday warning them of an “ongoing security threat” as sirens were reported in the area, as Iran launched missile attacks at several Israeli and American facilities in the region in retaliation for coordinated US-Israeli strikes on February 28, according to BBC.
EU President Ursula von der Leyen said she had been briefed on Sunday’s attack by the Cypriot president. “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 message on social media.
Earlier, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) had said that family members would be moved to alternative accommodation as a precautionary measure following Sunday’s attack. This came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the US to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes.
The Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed afterwards that it was planning the “temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel” from RAF Akrotiri. An alarm was separately raised at Paphos Airport after a suspected drone was spotted in the airspace and evacuation instructions were given.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said earlier on Sunday afternoon that British troops and civilians in the Middle East were being put at risk from “indiscriminate attacks” by Iran.
(with inputs from agencies)
March 02, 2026, 5:49 PM IST
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