Cyprus has intercepted two unmanned aerial vehicles heading towards RAF Akrotiri, according to a Cypriot government spokesperson.
The incident occurred on Monday, following a drone attack on the British base overnight on Sunday, which caused minimal damage and no casualties. The UK's Ministry of Defence had earlier announced that family members would be moved to alternative accommodation as a precautionary measure.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that the UK had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for defensive strikes, as reported by the BBC.
Timeline of Events
On Sunday, a drone hit the British base at around midnight local time, with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides later confirming that it was an Iranian drone. The Sovereign Base Areas Administration planned the temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel from RAF Akrotiri.
On Monday, employees at the base received a message warning them of an ongoing security threat, with sirens reported in the area. An alarm was also raised at Paphos Airport after a suspected drone was spotted in the airspace.
International Response
President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that she had been briefed on Sunday's attack by the Cypriot president, and that the EU stands collectively with its Member States in the face of any threat.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told BBC Breakfast that the government was still investigating the details of the incident, with the MoD assessing details including the source, locations, and timings.
Conflict Background
The latest conflict began on Saturday morning when Israel and the US launched a massive and ongoing attack against Iran's leadership and military. Iran has responded by firing ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region.
