Lebanese government condemns drone attack on RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus

On March 8, 2026, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi issued a formal condemnation of a drone strike that targeted the British RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus. Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos confirmed that the explosive-laden drones were launched from Lebanese territory. Minister Raggi stated that these acts do not represent the Lebanese state, its people, or its values, and explicitly rejected attempts to use Lebanon as a platform for external agendas. The Lebanese government emphasized that the strike was carried out by Hezbollah, an organization whose military activities were recently declared unlawful by the Lebanese Cabinet. Raggi urged Cypriot authorities to distinguish between the sovereign Lebanese state and groups operating outside of its legal control. Security at the base had been previously bolstered with additional aircraft and personnel following regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Experts note that the base is a critical hub for operations in the eastern Mediterranean. Lebanon expressed deep regret for the incident and reiterated its total rejection of the attacks without reservation.