A drone struck a British Royal Air Force base in Cyprus overnight, damaging a runway but causing no casualties, officials from Cyprus and the United Kingdom.
The unmanned aerial vehicle hit the runway at RAF Akrotiri shortly after midnight, causing minor damage when it crashed into the military facility, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said. It was the first attack on the base since a rocket strike by Libyan militants in 1986.
Authorities said the drone was a Shahed-type aircraft believed to be Iranian-made. It was not immediately clear where it had been launched from. Two sources initially said British forces intercepted a second drone, although one later said only a single drone had been involved.
Background
The base at Akrotiri, near the coastal city of Limassol, is one of two British sovereign bases retained after Cyprus gained independence in 1960. The facilities host military personnel as well as families stationed there.
The strike comes after Britain agreed to allow the United States to use its bases for defensive operations against Iranian missile stockpiles or launchers. British officials had previously said their bases would not be used in any offensive action.
Cypriot authorities emphasised that the country was not taking part in military operations.
Nearby residents reported hearing a loud explosion during the night. Some people in the village of Akrotiri temporarily fled their homes and sought shelter at army facilities in Limassol.
British officials said precautionary measures were being taken around the base and advised nearby residents to remain indoors after the suspected drone impact. Non-essential personnel are expected to be relocated while other British facilities on the island continue to operate normally.
The United Kingdom maintains about 7,000 personnel and dependants in Cyprus. The two British base areas cover around 99 square miles, or just under 3% of the island.
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