MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Iran hits UK’s RAF Akrotiri base in EU-member Cyprus after Starmer announces support for US
The strike came hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain had accepted a U.S. request to use UK bases for “defensive” missions aimed at Iranian missile depots or launchers An Iranian-made drone struck the UK’s RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus overnight, causing no casualties and only limited damage, in an incident that brought the Middle East conflict directly onto European Union territory. British authorities raised force-protection measures and ordered non-essential personnel to leave and disperse, while the base continued operating, according to official information reported by Reuters.
The strike came hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain had accepted a U.S. request to use UK bases for “defensive” missions aimed at Iranian missile depots or launchers. Starmer said the move was intended to prevent Iran from “firing missiles across the region” and to protect British lives, describing it as collective self-defence consistent with international law, Reuters reported.
Reuters said the drone caused limited damage — including minor runway-related impact — and that two additional UAVs were later intercepted before reaching the base. The UK Ministry of Defence said the base and personnel were operating normally as counter-drone and air-defence posture was tightened.
Greece, meanwhile, said it would send two frigates and two F-16 fighter jets to help protect Cyprus. Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said Greece was prepared to defend Cyprus “by any possible means,” according to Reuters reporting.
The incident unfolds amid a wider regional escalation following large-scale strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian reprisals across the Gulf. London maintains it is not directly participating in offensive operations, but is expanding support and defensive deployments around key bases such as Akrotiri.
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Read all commentsAkrotiri and Dhekelia are British sovereign bases, so not actually part of the EU since Brexit, although there are protocols that align with certain EU laws.
Mar 03rd, 2026 - 12:14 am 0Also, the drone was launched well before Starmer made his announcement and therefore not any kind of a response to it.
Question is how it got through to what should be the best defended British base anywhere? It’s certainly the most front line in today.
At the very least there should have been been a Type 45 nearby, supported by additional GBAD. It makes you wonder if the UK was given sufficient warning about the impending US/Israeli attack.
Mar 03rd, 2026 - 11:29 am 0Enough warning to tell nationals to leave before it started, only now are they talking about sending a T45.
Mar 03rd, 2026 - 12:19 pm 0And when Starmer is asked why so late, he will no doubt blame previous for the unreadiness now.
He has not yet grasped that it is HIS responsibility to fix things in TODAY and not simply fix the blame for things in the PAST.
We shall see if this now results in a faster increase in defence spending, as has been mooted in Parliament and asked for by the Brass, who have said for some time now the cupboard is nearly bare.
But that would require Starmer to first make a decision and then not U Turn on it.
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