The attack marks the first strike on the UK\u2019s Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri since 1986 as the UK PM agrees to help the US in its attacks on Iran
\n Cyprus
\nThe United Kingdom\u2019s Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in Cyprus has witnessed a suspected Iranian drone attack overnight, the island\u2019s president and the British Ministry of Defence said, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would allow the United States to use its bases to attack Iran.
\n\u201cAll the competent services of the republic are on alert and in full operational readiness,\u201d President Nikos Christodoulides said in a speech on Monday, adding that the Shahed-type unmanned aerial \u200cvehicle caused minor damage when it crashed into the military facilities at 12:03am (22:00 GMT).
\n\u201cI want to be clear, our country does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation,\u201d Christodoulides said.
\nAkrotiri, southwest of the sprawling coastal city of Limassol, is one of the two bases the UK has retained in the former colony since independence in 1960. In addition to the military facilities, it houses families of serving personnel.
\nBase authorities advised residents near Akrotiri to shelter in place until further notice after a \u201csuspected drone impact\u201d, adding that nonessential personnel would be dispersed and other British facilities would operate normally.
\nAkrotiri, located on a square-shaped peninsula on the southern tip of Cyprus, has been used in \u200cthe past for military operations in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
\nThe attack early on Monday morning, and the first on the British military facility, marks an escalation in the conflict, which is into its third day.
\nThe UK Defence Ministry confirmed the attack, saying its forces were handling a \u201clive situation\u201d.
\n\u201cOur force protection in the region is at the highest level and the base has responded to defend our people,\u201d a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
\n\u2018We stand collectively\u2019
\nIt was not immediately clear from where the suspected Shahed drone had been fired, which came after Starmer said the UK would help Washington in the war against Iran. The UK had initially denied access over fears that it would violate international law.
\nTwo sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Reuters news agency that the UK bases \u2060intercepted a second drone. However, Al Jazeera could not verify the report.
\nIn response to the drone \u200cattack, European Commission \u2060President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc \u2060stands \u2060with its member states in the face \u2060of any threat.
\n\u201cWhile the Republic \u2060of Cyprus was \u2060not the target, let me be clear: we stand \u2060collectively, firmly and \u2060unequivocally with our Member \u2060States in the face of any threat,\u201d von \u200cder Leyen said in a post on \u200cX.
\nWhile the bases are regarded as \u2060British sovereign territory, Cyprus itself is a European Union member, currently holding the bloc\u2019s rotating presidency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The attack marks the first strike on the UK\u2019s Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri since 1986 as the UK PM agrees to help the US in its attacks on Iran Cyprus The United Kingdom\u2019s Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in Cyprus has witnessed a suspected Iranian drone attack overnight, the island\u2019s president and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":534523,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-534513","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n