The Ministry of Defence has issued an update after RAF Akrotiri was targeted in a drone strike.

17:40, Wed, Mar 4, 2026 Updated: 18:28, Wed, Mar 4, 2026

British Jets Defend Allied Skies Across The Middle East

RAF Akrotiri was targeted in a drone strike on Monday (Image: Getty)

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has provided a major update after an RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus was recently targeted in a drone strike. Speaking on Monday, a Cypriot government spokesperson confirmed that two drones heading for the air base were intercepted.

Speaking on X, 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.

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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."

In the aftermath of the drone incident, families of British service personnel were relocated from Akrotiri as a precaution.

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Iranian Drone Crashes Into UK RAF Base In Cyprus

The entrance of RAF Akrotiri pictured on March 2, 2026 (Image: Getty Images)

Defence Secretary John Healey had said the attack demonstrated the "dangerous and indiscriminate attacks" carried out by Iran and its proxies.

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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.