Residents of Akrotiri fled their homes in terror shortly after midnight when an explosion ripped through the British base area, followed by blaring sirens and warplanes scrambling into the night sky.
The incident relates to a drone strike within RAF Akrotiri, according to sources, though the British Bases have not issued an official statement, referring journalists to the UK Ministry of Defence.
“We heard a very loud explosion and within minutes planes started taking off whilst sirens blared non-stop,” a resident told philenews. “There was intense anxiety and fear. Those who woke up came outside and for quite a while we kept hearing sirens.”
The British Bases sealed their entrances and told British residents to stay indoors.
Most Akrotiri residents abandoned their homes, some fleeing to relatives without taking belongings. “We came to our relatives without taking clothes or personal items. Our children won’t go to school tomorrow,” one resident said.
Residents are demanding immediate information and support from the Republic of Cyprus.
The reported attack came hours after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had given permission to the United States to use British bases “for specific and limited defensive purposes”.
Starmer and the Cypriot government had earlier in the day dismissed reports by British Defence Secretary John Healey that Iranian missiles were intercepted while heading towards the direction of Cyprus.
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