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An Iranian drone struck the British RAF base at Akrotiri in Cyprus overnight on Sunday, according to officials, as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported what it described as a “suspected drone strike” at around midnight local time (22:00 GMT). Authorities said there were no injuries and only limited damage to facilities. As a precaution, family members based at the installation are being temporarily relocated.
British officials stressed that security measures in the region are at their highest level and that the base remains fully operational. A spokesperson said UK forces continue to carry out their duties to protect national interests.
The Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed plans for the temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel from RAF Akrotiri. The move applies only to the military installation; nearby civilian communities, including Akrotiri village, have not been asked to evacuate. Officials said normal life and business operations in the surrounding area will continue without restrictions.
The incident comes after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed Britain had approved a US request to use certain British bases for what he described as limited defensive purposes. The UK government maintains it is not taking part in offensive operations.
My update on the situation in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/DvsOVcTDMy
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 1, 2026
European leaders have also reacted. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had been briefed on the situation and emphasised that EU member states stand united against threats to their security.
The broader crisis intensified after the United States and Israel launched major strikes against Iranian leadership and military targets on Saturday. Iran has since responded with ballistic missiles and drones aimed at US assets and regional allies, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey warned that Iranian actions are putting British personnel and civilians in the Middle East at risk through what he called indiscriminate attacks. He noted that two ballistic missiles were previously fired toward Cyprus but indicated the island itself was unlikely to have been the intended target.
British forces have already been involved in defensive actions. An RAF Typhoon operating from Qatar shot down an Iranian drone during a defensive patrol, the first such interception by the UK since the latest hostilities began. In a separate incident, a British counter-drone unit in Iraq destroyed another Iranian drone heading toward a coalition base housing UK personnel.
Despite these defensive measures, the UK government insists it will not join offensive operations against Iran, saying lessons were learned from past conflicts in Iraq. Officials say the decision to allow US access to British bases is grounded in collective self-defence obligations and the protection of British lives.
US forces are expected to rely on RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean for operations targeting Iranian missile capabilities.
With information from the BBC.
