Security alert and drone strike at RAF Akrotiri base

On Monday, March 9, 2026, air raid sirens sounded at the British Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, at 10:20, prompting authorities to order residents to take cover. The alert was lifted shortly thereafter, but concerns persist following a confirmed drone strike on the facility earlier. President Nikos Christodoulides verified that a Shahed-type drone hit military infrastructure at 00:03, causing minor material damage. Reports suggest the target may have been a hangar housing American U-2 aircraft. In response to regional tensions linked to the US-led war against Iran, 286 residents have been evacuated to hotels at the expense of the British Bases administration. While evacuation orders remain in place until Friday, regional protests against the British military presence in Cyprus have intensified. Schools in the affected area will remain closed until Monday, and local authorities continue to monitor the security situation.