Britain is not at war, its government stated on Monday, despite allowing the United States to use British bases during its war with Iran and after a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus was attacked by an Iranian-made drone. Sirens sounded again at RAF Akrotiri on Monday, with British Typhoon and F-35 warplanes deployed. The Cypriot government spokesperson, Constantinos Letymbiotis, posted on X that two drones heading towards the British base had been intercepted. More than two decades after Britain followed the US into a devastating war in Iraq, it now seeks to avoid being dragged into a new conflict in the Middle East with unpredictable consequences. British officials state that an attack drone hit the runway at RAF Akrotiri, a British air force base in Cyprus, on Sunday night. There were no casualties and minimal damage, but the attack brought the conflict to European soil. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides identified it as an Iranian Shahed drone. It was not immediately clear if it was launched from Iran or by a Tehran-backed group. Akrotiri is the UK's main airbase for operations in the Middle East and has been used by British warplanes in recent years for missions against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, as well as targeting Houthi targets in Yemen.
Two drones heading to a British base in Cyprus destroyed
Two drones heading to a British base in Cyprus, which houses military and civilian personnel, were intercepted on Monday, according to a Cypriot government spokesperson. "Two unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) heading towards the British bases in Akrotiri were neutralized in time," wrote government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis on X. The base was being evacuated after alarms were activated, said an AFP correspondent who saw about 70 vehicles leaving the base area on the southern coast of the Mediterranean island. Letymbiotis also told the press that Nicosia will request explicit guarantees from the UK that these bases "will not be used for purposes other than humanitarian under any circumstances."
US achieves "air superiority" in the war against Iran
US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine also declared that the United States had achieved air superiority over Iran thanks to American and Israeli airstrikes launched since Saturday. "The combined impact of these attacks—swift, precise, and forceful—has resulted in the establishment of local air superiority. This air superiority will not only enhance the protection of our forces but also allow them to continue their work over Iran," General Caine stated at a press conference.
Interior strengthens surveillance on critical infrastructures after attacks on Iran
The Ministry of the Interior has instructed to reinforce security measures in critical Spanish infrastructures following the US and Israel attacks on Iran and the country's response. According to an informative note from the National Center for the Protection of Critical Infrastructures (CNPIC), dated Saturday, February 28, and accessed by EFE on Monday, the Interior has advised to enhance surveillance and security due to the international geopolitical context. Given Iran's "operational precedents," hostile activities in the international arena may increase, potentially affecting interests and assets in Spain, as well as national operators in targeted countries. Although there are no specific indications directed at these operators or Spanish infrastructures, "various previous behavioral patterns advise maintaining a heightened level of alert."
US Joint Chiefs of Staff assures that operations in Iran "will take time" and there will be more casualties
US General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated on Monday that it will take time to achieve US military objectives in Iran and that more American casualties are expected. The aerial war between the US and Israel against Iran expanded on Monday with no end in sight. The US military reported that Kuwait's air defenses mistakenly shot down three US F-15E fighter jets during an Iranian attack. "This is not an overnight operation. The military objectives entrusted to CENTCOM and the Joint Force will take time to achieve and, in some cases, will be a difficult and arduous task," Caine told the press. A fourth US military member died on Monday from injuries sustained in the US operation against Iran.
Leading airline organization urges parties to respect civil aviation
The world's leading airline organization urged conflicting parties in the Middle East on Monday not to attack aircraft or airports following infrastructure attacks in the region. "It is essential that countries uphold their obligations to protect civilians and civil aviation," stated Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in a statement. "We all hope for a swift and peaceful end to the current hostilities," Walsh added. The organization brings together over 360 airlines representing 85% of global commercial air traffic.
War with Iran "is not Iraq, it is not endless," says US Secretary of Defense
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on Monday that the US operation launched against Iran is not an exercise in nation-building. "No more absurd rules of engagement, no more nation-building quagmires, not an exercise in nation-building, no politically correct wars. We fight to win and do not waste time or lives," the Secretary declared during his first press conference since the start of the war. Pete Hegseth maintained that "this is not Iraq" and the attacks will not lead to an "endless war," ensuring that the goal was to destroy Tehran's missiles, Navy, and other security infrastructure. "We are attacking them with precision, force, and without hesitation," he affirmed. According to Pete Hegseth, "this is not a regime change war, but surely the regime has changed, and the world is better for it." He also indicated that there are no US troops on Iranian soil, but emphasized that the US would go "wherever necessary." During the press conference, the Secretary refused to openly declare "what we are willing to do or not do."
Hundreds of Iranians cross the border into Turkey
Hundreds of Iranians crossed the border into Turkey on Monday afternoon as the war between the US and Israel against Iran escalated, according to a Reuters witness. Those arriving spoke of fear in Tehran and long lines at gas stations. In the morning, Turkey reported that passenger crossings for day trips at the three Turkish-Iranian border posts had been mutually suspended, with Turkey only allowing entry to its own citizens and nationals of third countries. On Sunday, travelers informed Reuters that some Iranian citizens were prevented from crossing into Turkey. However, on Monday, Iranians began crossing into Turkey through the Kapikoy border crossing, with snowy hills in the background. "The situation in Tehran is already difficult," said a man from the Iranian capital. He did not give his name but added that his wife and children were in Istanbul. "There are difficult situations in Tehran, like bombings. Everyone is scared. But, for example, normal people have not been harmed," he added.