Greece and France have confirmed they will send military assets to Cyprus following an Iranian-made drone strike targeting the UK’s RAF Akrotiri base on Monday. French officials said they would dispatch a warship along with additional land-based anti-drone and anti-missile systems to strengthen Cyprus’s defences, while Greece has already sent four F-16 fighter jets and is deploying two frigates.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said he had coordinated with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni to mobilise European support, describing Greece’s rapid response as a model for EU action. “This proves in practice that Greece is paving the way for how the European Union should respond to such cases,” Christodoulides said during a meeting in Cyprus with his Defence Minister Vassilis Palma, Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, and Greek Chief of Defence Staff Dimitris Houpis.
The incident activated the Greek-Cypriot Unified Defence Doctrine, a strategic plan between Athens and Nicosia designed to respond jointly to regional threats.
The attack occurred shortly after midnight on Monday, when a drone struck RAF Akrotiri, causing minor damage to an aircraft hangar. British warplanes intercepted two additional drones later the same day. Cypriot authorities reported that the drones were launched from Lebanon, likely by Hezbollah militants.
Germany has reportedly agreed to send a warship to support Cyprus, though officials declined to provide details on timing or deployment. French equipment is expected to arrive as soon as possible.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer clarified that while British bases in Cyprus remain operational, they will not be used by the United States for military operations targeting Iran. Starmer said in parliament that his government had approved a US request for the use of British bases for a “specific and limited defensive purpose,” but this would not include RAF Akrotiri or other Cypriot sites.
The escalation comes amid rising tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, with European nations signalling stronger military cooperation in response to threats from Iran and affiliated groups. The deployment of aircraft, frigates, and anti-drone systems underlines a coordinated effort to secure critical infrastructure and reassure allied forces stationed in the region.
Cyprus, which hosts multiple foreign military installations, has emphasized the importance of international coordination to counter drone and missile threats, as countries across the EU evaluate the implications for regional security and the protection of strategic assets.
