Cyprus authorities and the country's President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed that the Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri (southeastern Cyprus) was targeted by an Iranian drone "Shahid" tonight, Reuters and the "Cyprus Mail" newspaper reported, BTA reported.
“I want to be clear: Our country is not participating in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation”, Christodoulides said today, after confirming the information about the drone attack on the British base, Reuters reported.
In his post on social networks, Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Lethimbiotis also confirmed the attack and said that Cypriot authorities are "monitoring the situation" and "the competent authorities have immediately activated the necessary security protocols", writes the "Cyprus Mail". According to Lethimbiotis, the national security council has also been convened due to the situation, and the government is in "constant coordination" with the authorities of the British base and the government in London.
Early this morning, the British army reported a "suspected drone strike" against the base in Akrotiri, which is the largest British military base in the region. London has recently deployed additional assets there, including air and drone defense systems, radars and F-35 aircraft.
Great Britain has agreed to the United States using British military bases to strike Iranian missile sites, Prime Minister Kiir announced yesterday Starmer. He added that London would not participate in “offensive actions in Iran“.
After the drone attack, authorities at the British base in Akrotiri planned to temporarily relocate non-essential personnel as a precautionary measure, the Sovereign Base Areas Authority said in a statement, quoted by Reuters. “Other facilities the UK has on the island will continue to operate normally“, the statement added.