Suspected Drone Attack Targets RAF Base in Cyprus Amid Middle East Tensions
A suspected drone strike has hit RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The incident occurred at midnight local time, with no casualties reported at the base near Limassol.
An MoD spokesperson stated: "Our armed forces are responding to a suspected drone strike at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Our force protection in the region is at the highest level and the base has responded to defend our people. This is a live situation and further information will be provided in due course."
UK Allows US Use of Bases for Defensive Strikes
The strike came hours after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK had granted the United States permission to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites. This decision aims to support an unprecedented rescue operation for UK citizens in the Gulf region.
Hostilities in the Middle East have entered their third day, with the US and Israel continuing to target Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Over 200,000 British nationals, including military personnel, are believed to be at risk as Iran launches further missiles at neighbouring countries.
Sir Keir explained that he agreed to the US request to protect UK nationals and allies, accusing Iran of pursuing a "scorched earth strategy." He emphasised that British forces would not be directly involved in the strikes, and the bases would only be used for the "specific and limited defensive purpose" of targeting missile storage depots and launchers threatening regional stability.
The Prime Minister said: "We have taken the decision to accept this request – to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved."
Political Reactions and Legal Justifications
The decision has sparked mixed political reactions. Green Party leader Zack Polanski condemned it, accusing Sir Keir of jumping into "yet another Middle East illegal war." The Liberal Democrats have demanded that MPs be given a say on allowing US use of British bases.
In contrast, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the move as "better late than never" and labelled Sir Keir as "a follower, not a leader."
The Government has published a summary of its legal position, asserting that the action is in line with international law and constitutes "collective self-defence." The UK will continue defensive operations, including shooting down Iranian drones threatening northern Iraq and Qatar.
Unprecedented Evacuation Planning for British Nationals
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has launched a major operation to support British nationals in the Gulf. Officials are developing plans for potential evacuation routes if airspace remains closed for an extended period.
British citizens are currently advised to:
- Stay where they are and follow local authority instructions.
- Monitor the Foreign Office's rapidly changing travel advice.
- Register their presence online if in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar, or the UAE.
More than 94,000 people, primarily in the UAE, have already registered. While the Government has used this scheme before for crisis updates, it has never had to manage such a large number of individuals across multiple countries simultaneously.
The specific bases to be used by the US remain unclear, though reports suggest RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean are potential locations. Sir Keir's decision followed discussions with regional leaders who requested greater protection from Iranian missile threats.
