Brit households in Cyprus RAF base evacuated after ‘Iranian’ drone assaults
A drone strike on RAF Akrotiri targeted the compound’s runway shortly after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the nation the US had permission to utilise British bases
RAF Akrotiri has been attacked(Image: AP)
British families residing on a Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Cyprus have been evacuated after it was hit by a suspected Iranian drone strike. Thousands of British airmen and their families live at RAF Akrotiri, which was targeted around midnight.
There are three schools on the island which have been closed with immediate effect. Two of the schools are in RAF Akrotiri while a third is in a separate facility in the east of the island.
The drones attacked the RAF base’s runway, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said. “We’re not able to provide further information and detail at this point, but obviously, all of the precautionary measures are being taken around the base,” she said.
She added that the UK is doing all it could to bring Brits in the region back home “safely and as swiftly as possible”. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “The safety of our personnel and their families is our absolute priority.”
The families will be moved to alternative accommodation in Cyprus while RAF Akrotiri will continue to be used for its military operations, the MoD added.
A source told The Sun that at least one drone hit the runway, saying: “There is damage to the airfield.” Defence officials said no one was hurt and damage was minimal in the attacks.
The MoD said: “Our Armed Forces are responding to a suspected drone strike at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at midnight local time.
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“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.”
Last night just before the attack, Sir Keir Starmer revealed the UK had permitted the US to utilise British bases for striking missile facilities and silos in Iran for a “specific and limited defensive purpose”.
In a video statement published on social media on Sunday evening, the Prime Minister emphasised the UK was not participating in offensive operations against Tehran.
It was seen by many as the first official declaration that the UK is now officially involved in the US and Israel’s war with Iran.
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