Major update after RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus attacked by drone – ‘Not fro | World | News
Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed they had been travelling in the direction of the British base at the time of interception. The Sovereign Base Areas Administration arranged a “temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel” from RAF Akrotiri as a result. As part of an update on Wednesday, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that RAF Typhoon and F-35B jets continued defensive air operations across the Middle East overnight, supported by Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft. The department revealed that a Shahed-like drone did target RAF Akrotiri at midnight on March 2, however said it was not launched from Iran.
The full statement read: “Overnight, RAF Typhoon and F-35B jets continued defensive air operations across the Middle East with support from Voyager air-to-air refuelling in defence of British interests and allies.
“The Ministry of Defence can confirm that a Shahed-like drone which targeted RAF Akrotiri at midnight on 2nd March was not launched from Iran.
“In the last 24 hours, the UK has resupplied air defence systems to British and allied bases across the region – including UK-built air defence missiles.
“Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters – armed with Martlet missiles capable of taking out aerial threats – will arrive in Cyprus in the coming days.”
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In the aftermath of the drone incident, families of British service personnel were relocated from Akrotiri as a precaution.
Defence Secretary John Healey had said the attack demonstrated the “dangerous and indiscriminate attacks” carried out by Iran and its proxies.
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Cyprus, urging British nationals to take “sensible precautions” due to what it described as a “heightened risk of regional tensions”.
So far, the Ministry of Defence has not publicly confirmed where the drone was launched from.
