Brussels 01.03.2026 Two Iranian missiles were fired in the direction of Cyprus, British Defence Secretary John Healey said on today but were intercepted. The island is home to two British military bases.

🔴 Iran fired ballistic missiles towards Cyprus where Britain has a military base, the Defence Secretary said

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Healey said it was not yet clear if the missiles were deliberately targeting UK facilities on the island. “We are not sure if they were intentionally aimed at our bases,” he underlined.

However, his Cyprus counterpart Vasilis Palmas categorically denied what had come to light regarding missiles allegedly headed to Cyprus.

Responding to the Cyrus News Agency, Palmas underlined that he refuted what had been said.
“There is no indication that there was a threat to Cyprus,” government spokesman Konstantinos Letympiotis said on X.

Commenting on Healey’s statement that missiles had headed to Cyprus, he said “that it is not true and there is no indication that there was a threat to the country.
“The competent authorities are closely monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Nikos Christodoulides has called an extraordinary meeting of Cyprus’ National Security Council later today.

🇨🇾Nikos Christodoulides spoke with 🇬🇧Keir Starmer about regional developments. He was assured that Cyprus is not a target, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation. https://t.co/fbIBI5Megp

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Healey said the 300 British personnel were near targets in Bahrain and warned of wider regional fallout after US-Israel strikes. Speaking to Sky News, Healey added: “Few people will mourn the Ayatollah’s death.” However, he stressed his greater concern was the potential fallout from the strikes on Iran and the risk of wider regional escalation.

The British government has confirmed Britain was not involved in the US-Israeli operation.

On Saturday, February 28, Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired meetings of the Cobra emergency committee and urged British nationals in affected areas to follow official travel advice.

UK forces in Cyprus remain on heightened alert. The Ministry of Defence said it is monitoring the situation closely and will take “all necessary measures” to protect British personnel and assets in the region.

In June Iran warned the United Kingdom, the United States and France that their bases and ships in the region will be targeted if they are coming to aid to Israel, according to reports.

The UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom “played no role” in attacks carried out by the United States and Israel on Iran, though the country’s presence at its Akrotiri air force base in Cyprus is being bolstered.

It had been reported earlier this month that the UK had deployed a total of six F-35B fighter jets which departed from the RAF’s base in Marham, Norfolk, to Cyprus, “to defend the base and sovereign base territories should the situation in the region become ‘hot’”.