An Iranian drone struck a British airbase on Cyprus, causing material damage. A senior Iranian general now warns of further attacks to force US forces off the island. Cyprus's defense minister dismisses the threats as expected.
In the night leading into Monday, March 2, 2026, a drone struck the British airbase in Akrotiri on Cyprus, causing material damage and forcing thousands of staff to seek shelter. According to British media, the drone was detected only ten minutes before impact near a runway where US U-2 spy planes are stationed. Three other drones crashed into the Mediterranean while attempting to evade detection at low altitude.
The drone was likely an Iranian Shahed, fired from Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to several sources. Later that day, two additional Iranian drones were shot down by British fighter jets near the base.
The war simultaneously expanded to Lebanon, where Hezbollah fired missiles at northern Israel, which responded with bombings. The Cyprus attack occurred shortly after the US received permission to use British bases for strikes against Iran.
In Iranian state TV, Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabbari, a member of the Revolutionary Guard, warned of continued attacks. “The Americans have moved a majority of their aircraft to Cyprus. We will fire missiles with such intensity at Cyprus that the Americans are forced to leave the island,” he said according to Cyprus Mail.
Jabbari also announced that Iran would triple its missile numbers and use more advanced variants, after firing about 3,000 missiles and 10,000 drones so far. This contrasts with reports that the US and Israel have bombed Iran's missile systems.
Cyprus's Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas took the threats calmly. “Our defense mechanisms are ready for all scenarios,” he said, describing the rhetoric as a sign of uncertainty in Iran.
