ISTANBUL

Non-essential personnel will leave the UK’s RAF Akrotiri base in the Greek Cypriot Administration following reports of a drone strike, authorities said on Monday.

Authorities planned the "temporary dispersal of non-essential personnel" as a precautionary measure, the Guardian reported, citing Sovereign Bases Administration.

While the dispersal only applies to RAF Akrotiri station, other facilities will operate as normal.

The decision came right after Cypriot authorities and the UK Defense Ministry reported a drone strike at RAF Akrotiri at midnight, with no casualties.

"Our armed forces are responding to a suspected drone strike at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus at midnight local time. Our force protection in the region is at the highest level and the base has responded to defend our people," a ministry spokesperson said.

Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides also said in a televised address that the drone which had hit Cyprus was a Shahed-type unmanned combat aerial vehicle manufactured in Iran.

"I want to be clear: our homeland is not participating in any way, and do not intend to be part of any military operation," he added.

The reported strike followed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's announcement that the UK will allow the US to use its bases for a “specific and limited defensive purpose" amid escalating Iranian missile attacks.

The joint US-Israeli military campaign launched on Saturday has killed several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In response, Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries.