Drones target British base Akrotiri in Cyprus: Attacks trace back to Lebanese coast

Report by Bassam Abou Zeid, English adaptation by Mariella Succar

Akrotiri, a British military base located south of Cyprus near Limassol, is approximately 220 kilometers from the Lebanese coast, specifically Beirut. Drones launched from Lebanese shores would take between 30 to 60 minutes to reach the base, depending on the drone’s speed and launch location.

On the early morning of March 2, the base was attacked by a Shahed-type drone, causing damage to one of its hangars. A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office stated at the time that the drone was not launched from Iran. Two further attempts to target the base on the same day were unsuccessful.

On March 4, another attack involved two drones, which were intercepted by a Greek fighter jet over the eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus’ Foreign Minister, Costantinos Kombos, said the drones were launched from Lebanon, while Reuters cited a Cypriot source identifying Hezbollah as responsible.

The series of attacks prompted communication between Beirut, Nicosia, and London. Britain requested that Lebanon take measures to prevent further incidents. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji condemned the attacks and affirmed that the Lebanese government prohibits Hezbollah’s military and security activities and will enforce this policy.

Lebanese security and judicial authorities have not officially confirmed whether the drones were launched from Lebanese territory, and no investigations have yet been reported. British requests to open Lebanese airspace for British aircraft reportedly stemmed from concerns about potential attacks on the Akrotiri base.

According to security sources, drones targeting the base can be launched from any geographic location. Launching from coastal areas may help avoid early-warning systems, especially if the drones fly at low altitude over the water.

Launch methods can include mobile platforms such as trucks or vans that can stop at any coastal location, or even vessels at sea. The drone is then directed toward the target by an operator, or it can navigate autonomously using pre-programmed coordinates.