UK says drone targeting RAF base in Greek Cypriot Administration was not launched from Iran

By Seyit Kurt

ISTANBUL (AA) - Britain’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that a drone that targeted a Royal Air Force (RAF) base in the Greek Cypriot Administration earlier this week was not launched from Iran while confirming that UK military aircraft have continued defensive operations across the Middle East.

"The Ministry of Defense can confirm that a Shahed-like drone which targeted RAF Akrotiri at midnight on 2nd March was not launched from Iran," the ministry said in a statement posted on the US social media company X’s platform.

It also released details of recent UK military activity in the region, saying Royal Air Force Typhoon and F-35B fighter jets conducted overnight defensive patrols across the Middle East to protect British interests and allied forces. The operations were supported by Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft.

The UK has also resupplied air defense systems at British and allied bases across the region over the past 24 hours, including UK-built air defense missiles, according to the statement.

"Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters — armed with Martlet missiles capable of taking out aerial threats — will arrive in Cyprus in the coming days," the statement added.

British authorities previously said that one drone landed on the runway at the Akrotiri base but caused no casualties, injuries or significant damage. Two other drones approaching the base were intercepted.

Britain maintains two military bases in the Greek Cypriot Administration.