A British Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, came under attack Monday morning, marking a significant escalation in the Iran war.
An Iranian-made drone hit in the early hours, making impact on the runway. Hours later, two unmanned drones heading towards the same base were successfully intercepted.
“Our force protection in the region is at the highest level and the base has responded to defend our people,” a Ministry of Defence spokesperson told TIME.
There were no casualties, but U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that the first strike targeted the runway and “precautionary measures” are now being taken around the base.
The attacks on Akrotiri, a British sovereign base area, come after the RAF recently moved additional defensive capabilities to the location—including radar systems, anti-drone defenses, and F-35 jets—as part of ongoing efforts to support stability in the Middle East.
Showcasing the widening impact of the Iran conflict, an airport in Paphos, Cyprus, was later evacuated after a suspect object was picked up on radars.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said the “region is currently facing an unprecedented crisis” and sought to distance his homeland from the widening war. “Our country is not involved in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation,” he said.
Cooper also spoke of the “international” threat Monday morning and expressed the importance of recognizing “the responsibilities we have around defensive support for areas where there are British citizens.”
In an interview with Sky News, Cooper said she had spoken with foreign ministers around the Gulf “who were frankly shocked and horrified at the way their countries have been targeted by Iran over the weekend.”
In the initial…
