"Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed on Monday that a drone had 'crashed into' the British Royal Air Force Akrotiri base, causing 'minor material damage'. "Fellow countrymen and women. In light of recent events, I have chosen to address you all directly to inform you about what transpired last night at 12:03 AM," Christodoulides said in a recorded speech from Nicosia. "An unmanned aerial vehicle of the Shuttle type crashed within the military facilities of the British Bases in Akrotiri, causing minor material damage. From the very first moment, all competent authorities of the Republic have been on alert and in full operational readiness," he added. The drone, identified as an Iranian-made Shahed, reportedly damaged a runway, marking the first time a British military facility in Cyprus has been directly targeted since the 1980s. Authorities reported that a second drone was intercepted and neutralised before it could reach the base. Christodoulides reasserted that the attack does not mean the Republic of Cyprus is 'participating in any way' in the ongoing hostilities between the US, Israel and Iran. "I want to be clear. Our homeland is not participating in any way, nor does it intend to become part of any military operation. We remain committed to the humanitarian role we have served throughout this period. Always as part of the solution, not the problem," he said. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government is allowing the US to use British bases for a "specific and limited defensive purpose" aimed at destroying Iranian missile storage and launchers. In a statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU stands "collectively, firmly and unequivocally with our Member States in the face of any threat." It comes after the United States and Israel launched a joint strike on Saturday, with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to 'destroy Iran's missiles.' In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said that 'widespread missile and drone attacks' against Israel were underway. US bases were also reportedly targeted in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait."