A suspected drone strike hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus with no casualties reported, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed a suspected drone strike on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday near Limassol, resulted in no casualties. However, the Sovereign Base Areas Administration announced plans for “a temporary dispersal” of non-essential personnel.
An MoD spokesperson stated: “Our armed forces are responding to a suspected drone strike at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at midnight local time. 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.”
Konstantinos Letymbiotis, a spokesman for the Cyprus government, revealed in a statement that only “limited” damage was inflicted.
“Regarding the incident that occurred shortly after midnight at the Akrotiri Base, information received through various channels indicates that it involved an unmanned drone, which caused limited damage,” he wrote.
“The competent authorities immediately activated the prescribed security protocols and are closely monitoring the situation, in continuous coordination with both the Government of the United Kingdom and the administration of the British Bases.”
The Sovereign Base Areas Administration clarified that the dispersal of non-essential personnel was merely a “precautionary measure”.
It stated: “We understand in the wider British bases community that people are concerned and that some residents have decided to leave Akrotiri Village.
“Whilst we appreciate people may be worried, we do not believe this is necessary and temporary dispersal only applies to RAF Akrotiri Station.”
It said other facilities on the island would operate “as normal”.
In an earlier statement, people living in Akrotiri village had been advised to “shelter in place”.
According to the MoD’s website, the joint operating base is “used as a forward mounting base for overseas operations in the Middle East and for fast jet training”.
It is understood the UK Government recently moved additional resources to bases in Cyprus as part of ongoing operations in the Middle East.
The suspected strike came hours after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had allowed the US to strike Iranian missile sites from British bases as officials plan an unprecedented rescue operation for UK citizens in the Gulf.
Hostilities in the Middle East are entering their third day, with the US and Israel continuing to strike Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tensions in the region continued overnight Monday, with Israel launching strikes on Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, after Hezbollah fired missiles across the border. The Israeli military has confirmed it intercepted a missile and reported no casualties, later advising residents in 50 Lebanese villages to evacuate in anticipation of potential retaliatory action.
It’s estimated that over 200,000 British nationals, including military personnel, are in danger in the Gulf as the Tehran regime fires additional missiles at its neighbours.
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