Cyprus drone assault replace as MoD say ‘it was not Iran’ who hit RAF base
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that a drone which targeted RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on Monday was most likely launched from Lebanon by Hezbollah, with two additional drones intercepted heading towards the base
RAF Akrotiri following the drone strike on March 2(Image: Getty Images)
The MoD has released a significant update regarding the drone strike on RAF Akrotiri.
The RAF facility in Cyprus was struck by a one-way assault drone at 12.03am local time (10pm GMT) on Monday. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed today that the drone “was not launched from Iran “, backing Cypriot officials’ assertions that the strike was most probably conducted from Lebanon by Iran-backed militant organisation Hezbollah.
Defence Secretary John Healey had previously stated there were no casualties and that harm to the facility was minimal. He characterised the incident as an illustration of the “dangerous and indiscriminate attacks” executed by Iran and its proxies.
The MoD stated in a post on X at 5.03pm on Wednesday: “The Ministry of Defence can confirm that a Shahed-like drone which targeted RAF Akrotiri at midnight on 2nd March was not launched from Iran.”, reports the Mirror.
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Senior Cypriot officials revealed on Monday that the assault was executed by an Iranian Shahed drone most likely launched by Iran-backed militant organisation Hezbollah from Lebanon.
Cypriot officials have also stated their belief that the base – not Cyprus itself – was the intended target.
Iran and its allies have launched missile and drone strikes in response to US and Israeli assaults across the country. Over 1,000 individuals have been killed since Saturday due to US-Israeli attacks, as reported by Iranian state media.
The MoD confirmed today that RAF Typhoon and F-35B jets have maintained “defensive air operations”, backed by Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft, “in defence of British interests and allies”.
It further noted that in the past 24 hours, the UK has replenished air defence systems at British and allied bases in the Middle East, including UK-manufactured air defence missiles.
The MoD also announced that Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters – armed with Martlet missiles capable of engaging aerial threats – are expected to arrive in Cyprus in the coming days.
Two additional unmanned drones heading towards the base were intercepted on Monday morning, according to Cypriot authorities. Following the drone incident, families of British service personnel were moved from Akrotiri as a safety measure.
The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, encouraging British nationals to exercise “sensible precautions” due to the “heightened risk of regional tensions”.
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