Revealed: Drone That Struck UK Base in Cyprus Was Not From Iran

Britain’s Defence Ministry has disclosed that an Iran-made ‘Shahed-like’ drone targeting Britain’s air base at Akrotiri, Cyprus, was not launched from Iranian territory.

Early on Tuesday (3 March), a Shahed-like drone evaded the Royal Air Force’s advanced radar installations at Akrotiri. An Associated Press report said several Typhoon fighters and six F-35s were dispatched to destroy the drone.

British officials said the drone attack caused only limited damage to an aircraft hangar near the runway at the base.

The attack occurred a few days after the United States and Israel carried out a joint large-scale strike against Iran on Saturday (28 February), in an unprecedented clash that killed hundreds in Iran.

In a statement, The Wire reported on Thursday (5 March 2026) that the UK Defence Ministry confirmed the drone targeting Akrotiri did not originate from Iran.

‘Last night, RAF Typhoon and F-35B jets continued air-defence operations across the Middle East, with air-to-air refuelling support from Voyager to defend Britain’s interests and those of its allies,’ the ministry said on Wednesday (4 March).

‘The UK Defence Ministry can confirm that the Shahed-like drone that targeted RAF Akrotiri at around midnight on 2 March was not launched from Iran,’ the statement insisted.

The announcement opens up the possibility of speculation that the drone attack could have been launched from Lebanon, where Israel has again been involved in clashes with Hizbullah, which is backed by Iran.

The Cyprus drone strike marks a further expansion of the US-Israel campaign against Iran.

The British government stressed that the attack on the Cyprus base did not reflect Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to permit the United States to use British bases for military operations against Iran.