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Cyprus said a Shahed drone that struck a British air base on the island nation’s southern coastline was launched from the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
A Cypriot official said Thursday the drone that damaged a hangar at RAF Akrotiri shortly after midnight Monday had taken off from Beirut. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak publicly about the attack.
Two additional drones detected around midday Monday were intercepted by British warplanes that took off from RAF Akrotiri.
Authorities said there have been several false alarms regarding drone sightings since the initial strikes.
Earlier, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides said that an Iranian drone had crashed at a British Royal Air Force base in Cyprus.
The incident came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the United Kingdom had agreed to a U.S. request to allow the use of British military bases for what he described as “defensive” strikes.
A British sovereign base in Cyprus was evacuated Monday after sirens sounded, according to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) correspondent.
Around 70 vehicles were seen leaving the Akrotiri base area on the southern coast of the Mediterranean island. Most of the cars carried civilian license plates.
In addition to British and other military personnel, the base also houses civilians who work at the facility.
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