Alarm was raised at midnight at the British RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, following an incident attributed to a suspected strike by an unmanned aerial vehicle, with the United Kingdom and Cyprus issuing official statements and assessing the situation.

According to information from competent sources, in addition to the drone that exploded on the runway of the British base, there was a second drone which was intercepted.

Security service sources told Protothema.gr that, following identification of the Shahed-type UAV that struck the British base at Akrotiri in Cyprus, the most likely scenario is that it was launched from Lebanon, from a Hezbollah base. It is recalled that Hezbollah had explicitly threatened the Republic of Cyprus on June 19, 2024, when Hassan Nasrallah (now deceased), in a televised address, warned that Cyprus could be considered “part of the war” in the event of a broader conflict with Israel if it allowed the use of airports or bases for operations against Lebanon. The message was clear: involvement of infrastructure would mean involvement of the island, with all that entails.

President Nikos Christodoulides responded at the time that the Republic of Cyprus is not involved in military operations and follows a line of diplomacy and humanitarian assistance, rejecting the narrative of military participation.

Schools closed

Meanwhile, according to information obtained by Protothema.gr, the Ministry of Education instructed that all schools at every level located within the boundaries of the British Bases’ territory remain closed today for security reasons.

The British side, through a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence, confirmed relatively early that the armed forces were responding to a “suspected drone strike” at the RAF base “at midnight local time,” stressing that there were no casualties. At the same time, Sky News reported that the situation was ongoing, without an official reference to the origin or identity of the drone. It should be noted that the two British bases in Cyprus, under the 1960 agreements, constitute sovereign British territory.

From the Cypriot side, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis stated that, based on information received at various levels, it was “an unmanned drone” that caused “limited damage.” At the same time, the National Security Council was convened under President Nikos Christodoulides to assess the situation and risks.

Around 4:00 a.m., the alert level at the British bases was downgraded from red to yellow and the use of sirens was terminated.

Christodoulides: We are doing what is necessary, with the security of the country and its citizens as our top priority

The Cypriot President convened an extraordinary session of the National Council, attended by party leaders, for briefing and discussion of the situation. The Minister of Defence, the Chief of the National Guard, and the Director of the Cyprus Intelligence Service were also invited.

In a message issued Monday morning, the President clarified that the drone was an unmanned Shahed-type aircraft and that he remains in continuous contact with all European leaders and leaders of other states regarding developments.

In his address, he stated in part:

“Fellow citizens,
In light of the events, I have chosen to address you directly to inform you of what took place last night. At 12:03 a.m., a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle struck within the military installations of the British Bases in Akrotiri, causing minor material damage.

From the very first moment, all competent services of the Republic have been on alert and at full operational readiness. At the same time, I immediately convened the National Security Council to assess the situation, which remains in continuous consultation. Simultaneously, I am in constant contact with all European leaders and leaders of other states regarding developments.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are in a region of particular geopolitical instability, with many challenges and problems, currently experiencing an unprecedented crisis. I want to be clear: our country is not participating in any way, nor does it intend to become part of any military operation. We remain committed to the humanitarian role we have served throughout this period, always as part of the solution and not the problem, and we will continue to act with the same responsibility. We are doing what is necessary, with the primary concern being the security of the country and its citizens.”

Mystery over origin

It remains unknown from where the drone was launched (certainly not from Iran), who directed it, and whether it was the work of a sabotage group operating in Cyprus. Shortly before the incident, a “security threat” status was declared at the British Bases, with instructions for personnel and residents in certain zones to remain indoors in safe enclosed spaces. Guidance was issued along the lines of “return to your homes and stay inside until further notice.”

On social media, unverified speculation circulated earlier even about the type of drone, but authorities avoided referring to technical characteristics before inspections and analysis of findings were completed.

Why Akrotiri?

The British RAF base at Akrotiri is, for the United Kingdom, a hub of operational presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. In times of escalation, anyone wishing to send a message to London, or to allies using the facilities, may view the base as a target of high symbolic value, even if the actual operational impact of a single strike is limited.

It is no coincidence that the incident occurred after London announced that the United States would be able to use British bases for “defensive” operations in the context of escalating tensions with Iran.

Prior to the drone incident, there had been confusion following reports by the UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, that two missiles were launched “towards Cyprus,” with clarification that it was not certain they deliberately targeted the bases. The Cypriot side denied that Cyprus itself had been targeted or that there was a threat to the Republic.

The missile from Syria

Cyprus has previously experienced, in the harshest way, what it means to be adjacent to a war zone. On July 1, 2019, while the war in Syria was ongoing, a Russian S-200 anti-aircraft missile exploded over the occupied areas, and debris fell near residential zones. There were no casualties, but damage and small fires were reported, serving as a reminder that even a misfire can cause serious problems.