Regarding UK permission to operate from the British bases on the island the Cyprus President’s spokesman said: “This is something we must state we view with concern.

“Despite the fact that we had been given these assurances, during the British Prime Minister’s address to the nation yesterday, there was no clear clarification that the British Bases in Cyprus would under no circumstances be used for anything other than humanitarian purposes.”

A security threat warning was issued at Britain’s Cyprus Akrotiri air force base on Tuesday morning.

Personnel were infomed at 8 a.m. local time were told of an “ongoing security threat” and ordered to “return to your homes and stay inside until further notice”, reports local news outlet Cyprus Mail.

Staff were also required to “move away from windows and take cover behind or beneath substantial, solid furniture”, while awaiting further instruction.

Within minutes, British staff were then stood down with the statement: “an aerial threat to the sovereign base areas is no longer expected”.

Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul said an attack by Iran on further NATO territory could not be ruled out after a drone strike on a British air base in Cyprus.

Wadephul told German broadcaster ZDF when asked whether NATO countries could be targeted by Iran: “Yes, that danger exists, it cannot be dismissed.”

Government Spokesman of the Republic of Cyprus, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, announced in a post on X that four Greek F-16s arrived in Cyprus on Monday.

He said, “Four F-16 aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force have just landed in Cyprus, following the prompt response of the Greek Government, as part of strengthening preventive measures and the close cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and Greece.”

Up to four Shahed-style drones — the same type widely deployed by Russian forces in the war in Ukraine — are believed to have targeted the airbase in Cyprus, with at least two successfully intercepted, according to reports.

A source in Cyprus told The Sun: “It all happened so quickly. Sirens, warnings, the sound of explosions.

“Everyone’s wondering how they got so close before they triggered an early warning.”

The dramatic scenes have fuelled concerns about the vulnerability of RAF Akrotiri, one of Britain’s most strategically important overseas bases.

Sir Keir Starmer moved to calm tensions in Parliament, insisting the strike was not retaliation for the Government’s decision to allow the United States to deploy assets from British bases.

The Prime Minister said: “In our assessment, the drone was launched prior to our announcement.

“Iran’s aggression towards Britain and our interests is long-standing, and that is why we have always ensured that protections for British bases and personnel are at their highest level.”

Sir Keir Starmer has moved to shut down mounting speculation over Britain’s involvement in escalating Middle East tensions, insisting UK territory is not being used to launch American strikes.

On Monday, the Prime Minister told MPs: “It is important for me to say that our bases in Cyprus are not being used by US bombers.”

His intervention came amid reports of heightened military activity at RAF Akrotiri, Britain’s key airbase on the island.

Cypriot Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said Sir Keir’s remarks reflected a “common conclusion” — adding it was, “if you like, the joint position”.

However, tensions appear to be rising on the ground.

RAF Akrotiri is understood to be “preparing for war” after an unmanned drone struck part of the base reportedly used by top-secret US spy planes.

The Ministry of Defence has since closed three schools on the site, while military families were reportedly told to flee as a precaution.

One source on the base said: “It is embarrassing how little warning we had.”

Cyprus said the British government had given assurances that RAF Akrotiri would be used for humanitarian purposes only. However, after Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the US would be permitted to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites, Nicosia made its displeasure clear.

Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis Letymbiotis said his island “remains strictly committed to its humanitarian role”, adding that the country views itself as a “hub for humanitarian aid.”

Nearly every resident of the Cypriot village of Akrotiri has been evacuated following a series of drone attacks on the nearby British RAF base, local officials have confirmed.

Deputy mayor Giorgos Konstantinos told the Guardian: “Everyone has left with the exception of about 20 people who refused to leave. It’s been a mass evacuation given the circumstances and fear.”

Police numbers around the base have been strengthened, reports the Guardian, while non-essential RAF personnel have been relocated to other parts of the sovereign base areas — a legacy of British colonial rule — following Sunday’s midnight drone attack.

Two further unmanned vehicles were intercepted earlier on Monday. It remains unclear whether the drones were launched directly from Iran or fired by Iranian proxy forces operating in Lebanon.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has stated on its website:

“On 2 March 2026, the Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed a suspected drone impact at RAF Akrotiri.

“British nationals in the Sovereign Base Areas should follow instructions from the Sovereign Base Areas Administration British Bases Cyprus Facebook.

“British nationals in the Republic of Cyprus should follow any instructions from Cypriot local authorities.”

Greece is sending two frigates and two F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus in a show of support following Iranian drone strikes on the RAF Akrotiri base, reports local news outlet Greek City Times.

Among the vessels deployed is the brand-new Kimon-class Belharra frigate, which entered service late last year. The warship carries eight Exocet anti-ship missiles, 25 anti-air missiles and eight land-attack missiles.

Athens has made clear it stands ready to defend Cyprus and maintain stability in the eastern Mediterranean.

The following map shows unconfirmed and confirmed strikes against the island since Iran strikes started over the weekend.

Social media reports are emerging of multiple explosions heard across Cyprus, though these remain unconfirmed by official sources.

One X user wrote: “We’re currently located in Larnaca – Mackenzie, close to the civil airport. At around midnight, we heard an explosion. #cyprus #larnaca #iran #IranWar.”

Another account cited Israeli outlet Yedioth News: “Reports of explosions in Cyprus. Local reports indicate multiple blasts heard across the island nation as conflict reaches the Mediterranean.”

Neither the UK Ministry of Defence nor the Cypriot government has yet commented on the reports.

EasyJet has cancelled three return flights between the UK and Cyprus on Monday after Iranian strikes hit the RAF Akrotiri base on the island overnight.

The budget airline confirmed that services between the UK and the coastal airports of Paphos and Larnaca will not operate on March 2, with Tuesday’s flights currently still scheduled to run.

An easyJet spokesperson told the Express: “Due to the events overnight affecting the RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus, as a precaution, three return flights between Paphos and Larnaca and the UK today will not be operating.”

The airline urged affected travellers to monitor its flight tracker for the latest updates.