European Union stands with its member states in the face of any threat, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in response to the drone strike that hit Britain's Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in southern Cyprus overnight.
"While the Republic of Cyprus was not the target, let me be clear: we stand collectively, firmly and unequivocally with our Member States in the face of any threat," von der Leyen said in a post on X on Monday.
Her comments comes as Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said in a speech that the Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) caused minor damage when it crashed into the military facilities at 12:03 a.m.
It was not immediately clear from where the Iranian-made Shahed had been fired. Two sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the British bases intercepted a second drone, but one of the sources later said it was 'one drone'.
"All the competent services of the republic are on alert and in full operational readiness," Christodoulides said.
The strike, which hit a runway, was the first attack on the military facility since a rocket attack by Libyan militants in 1986. It shook the east Mediterranean island, a holiday hotspot and home to thousands of foreign companies.
Von der Leyen's comment comes as the European Commission’s security college is scheduled to meet on Monday to consider its response to the escalating situation in the Middle East.
Meanwhile the European Commission has asked member states to share oil security of their supply assessments by the end of the day. It's also considering convening an ad-hoc meeting of its oil coordination group later this week. But it says it doesn't see any immediate oil security of supply impacting the EU.
Security meetings
EU foreign ministers held an emergency online meeting late Sunday to discuss regional stability.
She said, that "Iranian strikes in Manama were unjustified and unacceptable, I told Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain."
Von der Leyen said she spoke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman saying she would work closely to de-escalate and safeguard regional stability.
Following the emergency talks, EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas warned against the prospect of further military escalation that could destabilise the broader region. She emphasised the critical need to keep key waterways open, specifically noting the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a vital transit route for global energy supplies.
In response to the growing security threat, several European countries said they're drafting contingency plans to evacuate their citizens from the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of European nationals are currently believed to be in the affected area, either in transit or on holiday.
To manage the logistical challenges, member states are expected to collaborate and share resources, utilising joint extraction flights to safely remove their citizens from the region before commercial airspace faces wider closures.
In a separate development regarding European defence, French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to deliver a highly anticipated speech on nuclear deterrence on Monday afternoon. The address comes as European nations reassess their own defence capabilities and security strategies amid rising global military conflicts.
Weekend strikes hit Iran’s Natanz nuclear site and missile facilities near Isfahan, as Tehran responded with missiles and drones targeting Te...
Two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico arrived safely in Havana on Saturday, the Mexican Navy...
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had ...
Afghanistan and Pakistan have traded heavy fire, both sides said, days after they announced a temporary pause i...
China imposed sanctions on Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya on Monday, who is a close aide of Japanese ...
Weekend strikes hit Iran’s Natanz nuclear site and missile facilities near Isfahan, as Tehran responded with missiles and drones targeting Tel Aviv, Haifa Bay, and Gulf assets. With U.S. reinforcements deployed and Hormuz tensions rising, the region faces a sharply escalated crisis.
Two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico arrived safely in Havana on Saturday, the Mexican Navy said, concluding a journey in which the vessels were delayed by bad weather and briefly reported missing.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have traded heavy fire, both sides said, days after they announced a temporary pause in fighting, escalating tensions in the volatile region as Islamabad prepares to host talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
The four astronauts selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission have arrived in Florida, entering the final phase of preparations for the first crewed journey towards the Moon in more than five decades
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
Iranian Military Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zulfiqari has warned that American soldiers will become 'food for sharks' if U.S. President Donald Trump launches ground attacks against Iran. The threat comes after the U.S. military said it was deploying thousands of Marines to the region.
Weekend strikes hit Iran’s Natanz nuclear site and missile facilities near Isfahan, as Tehran responded with missiles and drones targeting Tel Aviv, Haifa Bay, and Gulf assets. With U.S. reinforcements deployed and Hormuz tensions rising, the region faces a sharply escalated crisis.
Two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico arrived safely in Havana on Saturday, the Mexican Navy said, concluding a journey in which the vessels were delayed by bad weather and briefly reported missing.
China imposed sanctions on Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya on Monday, who is a close aide of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, due to his "collusion with Taiwan independence" forces, in its latest move in a diplomatic row over Taiwan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he talked about a possible security partnership on Sunday with Jordan's King Abdullah over defending against drone attacks amid rising tensions over the Iran conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had "no problem" with any country sending crude to Cuba as a Russian tanker neared a Cuban port with a badly needed shipment, signalling he was reversing course on blocking oil shipments to the country on Sunday.
Cuba and the United States have been at odds for more than six decades, with tensions rooted in the 1959 revolution that transformed the island’s political and economic system. Renewed focus on relations comes as Donald Trump’s rhetoric intensifies and conditions on the island worsen.
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