RismadarVoice Reporters, March 2, 2026
An Iranian drone struck the runway of a British military base in Cyprus shortly after midnight on Monday, as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran continued to expand, drawing a swift response from the European Union.
Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides said a Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the military facilities of the British Bases in Akrotiri around 2200 GMT, causing minor material damage.
“This is an unmanned drone strike specifically on the airport runway… 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,” Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said.
The Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri, located near the southern coastal city of Limassol, is a British Overseas Territory. On Sunday, Britain agreed to allow the United States to use its military bases for what it described as “defensive” strikes aimed at destroying Iranian missiles and launchers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the United Kingdom was not directly participating in offensive operations.
“We are not involved in the initial strikes on Iran and we will not join offensive action now,” Starmer said in a post on X. “But Iran is pursuing a scorched-earth strategy, so we are supporting the collective self-defence of our allies and our people in the region.”
The European Union reacted swiftly to the incident, underscoring its solidarity with Cyprus, an EU member state.
“While the Republic of Cyprus was not the target, let me be clear: we stand collectively, firmly and unequivocally with our Member States in the face of any threat,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said following talks with President Christodoulides.
Earlier, Christodoulides stressed that Cyprus does not intend to be drawn into military operations.
“We are in a region of particular geopolitical instability with many challenges and problems, which is going through an unprecedented crisis. Our homeland does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation,” he said.
The drone strike marks a further escalation in tensions as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran reverberates across the region, raising fears of broader instability in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
