Drone Targets RAF Base in Cyprus
A drone targeted a British Royal Air Force base in Cyprus on Sunday night, according to the Ministry of Defence. This happened at Royal Air Force Akrotiri after midnight and UK forces responded immediately. The BBC said nobody was hurt. The Ministry of Defence said it is doing everything it can to keep people safe in the area and confirmed the base was able to protect those who were there. The government of Cyprus said the attack involved a drone and caused no damage, according to Reuters.
UK Allows US Use of Bases as Conflict Deepens
The attack came as tensions worsened across the Middle East. Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK would allow the United States to use British military bases to take action against Iranian missile sites, describing the move as defensive. The conflict began on Saturday when Israel and the United States attacked Iran’s leadership and military equipment. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reported to be among those killed.
Iran Retaliates as UK Warns of Regional Threats
Iran later launched missiles and drones at US assets and allied nations across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Defence Secretary John Healey said British troops and civilians in the Middle East now face danger due to Iran’s attacks. He also said two ballistic missiles were fired towards Cyprus on Sunday, although he did not believe Cyprus was the intended target. The Cypriot government said Sir Keir confirmed to President Nikos Christodoulides that Cyprus was not a target.
UK Shoots Down Drones but Rules Out Offensive Action
The Ministry of Defence also said a Royal Air Force Typhoon jet based in Qatar shot down a drone. Marking the first time a UK fighter aircraft stopped an Iranian drone since the conflict began. In another incident, a UK team in Iraq destroyed a drone heading towards a base housing British personnel. Although the UK is becoming more involved, Sir Keir said Britain did not launch the first attack on Iran and will not take part in any offensive action. He said the government had learned from the Iraq conflict and was acting only to protect people and allies. The BBC understands the US may use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean to launch attacks on Iranian missile sites.
