After a drone struck RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus, Greece has elected to deploy naval vessels and F-16s to the Republic of Cyprus in an effort to assist defend their shut ally.
On the night of Mar. 1, 2026, stories emerged of an emergency scenario at RAF Akrotiri, located inside UK sovereign territory on the southern coast of the island of Cyprus. Shortly this materialized into information that the bottom, which is the UK’s major hub for Center East operations and in addition homes U.S. Air Drive U-2 plane, had been hit by not less than one assault drone probably fired both by Iran or its regional proxies in response to Operation Epic Fury.
Rumors on social media claimed that as many as seven drones had been launched towards the bottom, with six having been downed earlier than influence. In keeping with Cypriot authorities, two extra drones headed in the direction of the bottom on Mar. 2, however had been intercepted. The drone that made it by reportedly hit the bottom’s runway, although official statements have burdened that harm is minimal and operations have been seen to have continued. No accidents are reported.
The strike on RAF Akrotiri final evening is deeply regarding, an instance of the damaging and indiscriminate assaults by Iran & its proxies throughout the area.
Our greatest evaluation is that the drone was fired earlier than the Prime Minister’s assertion final evening on the US use of UK bases.
— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) March 2, 2026
Remark from the UK Ministry of Defence hours after the primary assault learn: “Our armed forces are responding to a suspected drone strike at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at midnight native time. Our pressure safety within the area is on the highest degree and the bottom has responded to defend our individuals.”
Within the instant aftermath, open supply flight monitoring websites like Flightradar24 confirmed the departure of RAF A330 Voyager multirole tanker transports (MRTT) and Eurofighter Storm fighter plane. Six F-35B Lightning stealth fighters are additionally stationed on the base as a part of the UK’s earlier reinforcement measures. Extra pressure safety measures on the bottom had been additionally enacted, with Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) Police dispatched to arrange roadblocks at entry factors and emergency notices despatched to residents advising on steps they need to take to make sure their very own security.
Two Royal Air Drive Eurofighter Storm fighter jets, together with an Airbus KC2 Voyager refueling plane, have departed RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus following stories that an Iranian drone or missile struck the bottom. pic.twitter.com/Fza223WBWR
— Egypt’s Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) March 1, 2026
Notably, one uncommon measure noticed messages despatched to RAF Voyager plane advising pilots to disable their transponders after touchdown to keep away from disclosing precisely the place on the bottom the plane could be parked.
Opposite to some hypothesis on social media, it’s not doable to know for sure whether or not UK ground-based air defence forces – like Sky Sabre missile batteries, and Fast Sentry counter-uncrewed aerial methods (C-UAS) models – had been lively at Akrotiri to defend towards the assault. In keeping with the UK Defence Journal, a part of the reinforcement measures did embrace C-UAS and air defence capabilities, although the precise varieties are unknown. We do know that UK C-UAS models are lively in Iraq, the place they downed a drone heading in the direction of a coalition base.
Greece Steps In
Though the assaults on Akrotiri are targeted on sovereign British territory and never in the direction of the Republic of Cyprus itself, there’s a clear threat of Cyprus being caught within the crossfire. With restricted army functionality of its personal, the Republic’s shut ally, Greece, has stepped in to defend the nation.
pic.twitter.com/AdD3MCGmuw
— Λετυμπιώτης Κων/νος (@letymbiotis) March 2, 2026
4 F-16V Preventing Falcon fighters from the Greek Air Drive, formally titled the Hellenic Air Drive, touched down in Cyprus on the night of Feb. 2.
As well as, Letymbiotis Konstantinos, Spokesperson for the Republic of Cyprus, confirmed that the Hellenic Navy would deploy two frigates to the waters across the island. This contains the Kimon (F-601), the primary of 4 French-designed Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI – Defence and intervention frigate) vessels ordered by Greece. Kimon was accepted into the Hellenic Navy in solely January of this yr. The opposite frigate, formally not recognized, is claimed to hold Greece’s ‘Kentaurus’ C-UAS system.
Greece to deploy a number of warships, fighters to Cyprus after Iranian assaults.
Two Hellenic Navy frigates will likely be despatched: one, the brand-new French-built FDI HN frigate HS Kimon (F-601). pic.twitter.com/aoiw7C57eG
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 2, 2026
The Kimon itself is provided with a 76 mm speedy fireplace naval cannon in addition to 24 vertical launch system cells devoted to Aster 15 or Aster 30 floor to air missiles. These are the identical missiles as carried by Horizon class destroyers of the French and Italian navies in addition to the Sort 45 destroyer of the Royal Navy. A further eight ‘strike-length’ cells can both be used for extra air defence missiles or for land assault cruise missiles. A Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching System turret is carried above the ship’s hangar, including 21 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles for level defence.
Greek Minister for Nationwide Defence Nikos Dendias affirmed in an announcement that his nation would “contribute in each doable technique to the protection of the Republic of Cyprus”. Greece and the Republic of Cyprus have been shut because the latter’s independence in 1960, sharing languages, ethnicity, and cultural heritage. The Republic of Cyprus controls the south and western elements of the island of Cyprus, whereas the north/northeast areas are administered because the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – recognised on the worldwide stage solely by Türkiye.
