Ministry of Defense says RAF base in Cyprus hit by drone strike | world news


RAF base Akrotiri was hit by a one-way attack drone amid fresh conflict in the Middle East that began on Saturday.

There were no casualties in the incident at the base near Limassol, Cyprus.

However, in response to the attack, the base is evacuating families and temporarily evacuating non-essential personnel.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) described it as a “precautionary measure”.

Families are being moved to alternative accommodation on the island.

An MoD spokesman said: “The safety of our personnel and their families is our absolute priority.

“Our bases and personnel will continue to operate as normal to protect Britain’s security and our interests.”

The UK government has yet to confirm where the drone originated from.

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It was the first attack on an RAF facility since a rocket attack by Libyan militants in 1986.

An MoD spokesman previously said: “Our armed forces are responding to a suspected drone attack at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at midnight local time.

“Our force protection in the region is at its highest level and the base has responded to protect our people.

“This is a live situation and more information will be provided in due course.”

Later on Monday, Cyprus President Nicos Christodoulides said authorities were on full alert following the drone attack.

But he reiterated that the region “does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation”.

RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. File photo: PA
Image:
RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. File photo: PA

The armed forces were transporting additional resources to its bases in Cyprus, including counter-drone systems, F-35 jets and radar systems.

The MoD said the additional capabilities are purely for defensive measures: mainly detecting and defeating airborne threats.

Sky News understands the drone involved in the incident at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was a small one.

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The suspected strike came hours after Prime Minister Keir Stormer said the UK had authorized the US to attack Iranian missile sites from select British bases.

Sky News understands RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire Cyprus and Diego Garcia in the disputed Chagos Islands.

Reacting to the announcement, Liberal Democrats warned of a “slippery slope” that risks the US “(dragging) Britain into another protracted war in the Middle East”.

A Cyprus government spokesman said: “Information received through various channels indicates the involvement of an unmanned drone, which caused limited damage”.


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Hostilities in the Middle East have entered a third day, with the US and Israel continuing to attack Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

More than 200,000 British nationals, including military personnel, are thought to be at risk in the Gulf as the Tehran regime fires further missiles at its neighbours.

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