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Loud explosions resonated from a RAF base in Cyprus, marking what seems to be an attack by an Iranian drone.
Residents near the British RAF Akrotiri base in Limassol reported a significant explosion around midnight local time, following a declared ‘security threat.’
This base, which accommodates approximately 2,000 service members and their families, appears to have been targeted potentially by Iran or its affiliates.
While it remains uncertain if this explosion is directly connected to developments in Iran, it coincided with a recent decision by Sir Keir Starmer allowing the US to conduct ‘defensive’ strikes on Iranian missile sites from UK bases just an hour prior.
Details regarding casualties or the extent of the damage remain unclear at this time.
Flight trackers identified RAF jets being scrambled to protect the base and thousands of troops and their families were ordered to take cover.Â
Personnel at the base were said to have been warned of a potential threat and told to ‘return to your homes and stay inside until further notice’.
A ‘security threat’ was declared at British bases in Cyprus just before midnight, according to Cyprus Mail.Â
Strong explosions have reportedly been heard near the British Akrotiri Air Force base (pictured) in Limassol
Strong explosions were heard at the British Akrotiri Air Force base in Limassol at around midnight local time after a ‘security threat’ was reportedly declared
Keir Starmer has given the US permission to launch ‘defensive’ strikes on Iranian missile sites from UK bases
Personnel were told to ‘move away from windows and take cover behind or beneath substantial, solid furniture’, and to await further instruction.
Unconfirmed video footage showed a projectile – possibly a drone or an intercepted missile – crashing on the horizon near the base.Â
If confirmed, the attack would draw Britain deeper into the conflict that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been desperate to avoid. Â
The UK did not take part in the strikes on Iran which killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But on Sunday British fighter jets downed an Iranian drone which was headed to Qatar.
Sir Keir Starmer has now given the US permission to launch ‘defensive’ strikes on Iranian missile sites from UK bases.Â
The Prime Minister, alongside France and Germany, threatened to join the war on Iran by taking defensive action to stop the ‘appalling’ missile and drone bombardments targeting allies in the Middle East.
The decision comes after a day of conversations between Sir Keir and regional leaders, including the kings of Bahrain and Jordan, the crown prince of Kuwait, the sultan of Oman and the president of Cyprus to discuss the security situation and the UK’s defensive actions.Â
Sir Keir claimed the UK has learned lessons from ‘the mistakes of Iraq’ and he would only allow strikes for the ‘limited specific defensive purpose’ of defending British allies.
He said it is ‘my duty to protect British lives’ from Iranian ‘scorched earth strikes’ but ruled out taking part in pre-emptive strikes.
The PM said it ‘remains the case’ the UK is not involved in strikes on Iran and will ‘not join offensive action now’.
He claimed the decision was as a result of a ‘collective self-defence’ of allies and to protect British lives from Iran’s furious bombardment across the Middle East.
The PM said the US can use the bases for the ‘specific and limited defensive purpose’ of hitting missile launch sites or storage depots in Iran.
He said the move was in accordance with international law, and the government would publish a summary of its legal advice.
In a statement on Sunday evening, Sir Keir said: ‘Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them and it’s my duty to protect British lives.
‘We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations which have already successfully intercepted Iranian strikes, but the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source, in their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles.
Pictured: Smoke rises from Tehran on Sunday after it was targeted by US-Israeli missilesÂ
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on Saturday
‘The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose.
‘We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved.
‘The basis of our decision is the collective self defence of long-standing friends and allies and protecting British lives – that is in accordance with international law and we are publishing a summary of our legal advice.’
Sir Keir’s comments followed a joint statement on Sunday night with France and Germany, which said they were ready to defend their interests in the region after the ‘indiscriminate and disproportionate’ missile attacks by Iran.
They said: ‘We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially fire missiles and drones at their source.
‘We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this.’
None of the three countries took part in the Israeli-US strikes on Saturday.
And the drone struck down by the RAF on its way to Qatar is thought to be the first taken down by a British fighter jet since the latest outbreak of conflict.
Sir Keir added: ‘I want to be very clear. We all remember the mistakes of Iraq. And we have learned those lessons. We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran… and we will not join offensive action now.’
But he said the UK is ‘supporting the collective self-defence of our allies and our people in the region’.
He claims it is the ‘best way to eliminate the urgent threat… and prevent the situation spiralling further.’
The PM previously said British jets were ‘in the sky’ to help defend allies in the region as Iran seeks revenge for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Earlier on Sunday, Defence Secretary John Healey said there were ‘two missiles fired in the direction of Cyprus’.
He said: ‘We don’t believe they were targeted at Cyprus, but nevertheless, it’s an example of how there is a very real and rising threat from a regime that is lashing out widely across the region, and that requires us to act’.
The UK did not participate in the strikes against Iran but F-35B fighter jets have been taking part in defensive operations from Qatar and Cyprus.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: ‘On 1 March 2026, a Royal Air Force Typhoon operating from Qatar as part of the joint UK-Qatar Typhoon Squadron, successfully took out an Iranian drone heading towards Qatari territory.
‘The Typhoon jet was conducting a defensive air patrol and used an air-to-air missile to shoot down the drone, ensuring the security of Qatar’s airspace and British interests in the region.
‘Our Armed Forces are playing a vital role to protect our people, our interests and our Allies.’Â
Earlier on Sunday, Defence Secretary John Healey repeatedly dodged questions on whether Britain supports Donald Trump’s decision to launch military strikes against Iran.
He refused six times in a TV interview to say if the UK backed the US and Israeli action – or if the Government considered the action to be legal.
US allies across the Middle East including Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi have been targeted by Iran with ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones.
The Iranian regime vowed to unleash its ‘most intense offensive operation in history’, with ‘force’ its enemies ‘have never experienced before’.
Flames and a black plume of smoke rise from a warehouse in the industrial area of Sharjah City in the UAE, following reports of Iranian strikes
Smoke plumes rise following missile strikes in Tehran on March 1, 2026
Earlier on Sunday, Defence Secretary John Healey said there were ‘two missiles fired in the direction of Cyprus’Â
At least two drones have hit Dubai’s airport, the world-famous Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah hotels were hit yesterday, and further explosions echoed across the Emirates today.
In the Bahrain city of Manama, the Crowne Plaza hotel was damaged by a suicide drone, and Iranian missiles have also been hitting Tel Aviv – with at least ten people confirmed to have been killed in Israel. There has also been a death in Kuwait.
Senior regime figure Ali Larijani, who is expected to take over from the assassinated Ayatollah, led the calls to intensify revenge attacks on Israel and the West today.
Meanwhile, the government is planning to evacuate at least 94,000 Brits currently stuck in the Middle East as air spaces remain closed amid Iran’s suicide drone blitz.
In an unprecedented operation, the UK is hoping to support hundreds of thousands of British nationals in the Gulf as Iranian strikes rain down in the region, killing at least three civilians in Dubai.
The evacuation plan follows US and Israeli strikes on Iran early Saturday in what the two countries described as a ‘pre-emptive’ attack aimed at halting Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Iran retaliated with missile attacks across the region, with Israel and Gulf states among the reported targets.
At least ten people have been killed in Israel by the Iranian strikes. Nine people were killed in a missile strike on the northern town of Beit Shemesh.
One person was killed and seven injured in an attack on Abu Dhabi’s Zayed airport, while thick black smoke has been seen rising from the Erbil Airport in Iraq. One person was also killed in Kuwait.