Arabic version: قاعدة سلاح الجو الملكي في قبرص تتعرض لهجوم بطائرة مسيرة مشتبه بها

According to BBC News,

A British RAF base in Cyprus was targeted by a “suspected drone strike” on Sunday night, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The incident occurred at RAF Akrotiri at around midnight local time (22:00 GMT). Fortunately, there were no reported casualties from the attack.

The MoD stated that the armed forces were responding to the strike, emphasizing that their force protection in the region is currently at its highest level. The incident follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that the UK has agreed to a request from the US to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes against Iranian missile sites.

Tensions escalated over the weekend when Israel and the US launched a “massive” and ongoing attack against Iran’s leadership and military, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has been targeting US assets and allies across the region, including nations such as Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.

Defence Secretary John Healey highlighted the risks faced by British troops and civilians in the Middle East due to Iran’s “indiscriminate attacks.” He noted that while two ballistic missiles had been fired towards Cyprus, they were not aimed at the island itself, a claim later confirmed by a Cypriot government spokesman.

Additionally, an RAF Typhoon jet operating from Qatar successfully shot down an Iranian drone during a “defensive air patrol,” marking the first such engagement by a UK fighter since the conflict escalated. Despite the current situation, Sir Keir Starmer stated that the UK would not participate in offensive actions against Iran, focusing instead on collective self-defense and the protection of British lives.