Monday, March, 2 2026 - An Iranian drone hit the runway of a UK military base in Cyprus on Monday, prompting the EU to vow solid backing for member states as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran spread.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said that just after
midnight (2200 GMT), “a Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the
military facilities of the British Bases in Akrotiri, causing minor material
damage”.
Britain’s foreign minister said the drone had hit a runway.
“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,” Yvette Cooper told Sky News.
The European Union, of which Cyprus is a member state,
reacted immediately.
“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,” EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said after talks with
Christodoulis.
“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,” Christodoulides said earlier.
Britain agreed on Sunday to allow the United States to use
British military bases to fire “defensive” strikes aimed at destroying Iranian
missiles and their launchers.
The Royal Air Force Akrotiri base is a British overseas
territory near the southern coastal city of Limassol.
While announcing that British bases can be used by US forces
for defensive strikes, Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that Britain was
“not involved in the initial strikes on Iran and we will not join offensive
action now”.
“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,” he said in a post on X.
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