A drone resembling the Iranian-made Shahed series struck the British Royal Air Force base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, raising concerns about the expanding reach of the ongoing regional conflict. However, the UK Ministry of Defence clarified that the drone involved in the attack was not launched from Iran.
According to British officials, the drone struck a runway at the military facility around midnight on March 2. While the incident marked the first attack on a military installation in Cyprus since 1986, authorities reported no injuries and only minimal damage to the base.
The UK government confirmed the incident in an official statement, noting that the drone resembled the Shahed-type drones often associated with Iranian designs, but investigations indicate it did not originate from Iranian territory.
The Defence Ministry also revealed that the United Kingdom has reinforced air defence systems across British and allied military bases in the region over the past 24 hours. These measures include the deployment of UK-manufactured air defence missiles to strengthen protection against aerial threats.
To further bolster security, Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters equipped with Martlet missiles, designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets, are expected to arrive in Cyprus in the coming days.
The drone strike has heightened concerns among European security officials, as the incident effectively brought conflict-linked military activity onto European soil, underscoring the rising geopolitical tensions in the region.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
