The UK Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus: Status and recent developments

There are two UK military bases on the island of Cyprus, occupying around 98 square miles of the island. They are known as the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs).

UK rights to bases in Cyprus

The UK maintains sovereignty over the SBA areas under the treaty establishing an independent Cyprus in 1960. A separate treaty signed at the same time obliged Greece, Turkey and the UK to guarantee the independence, territorial integrity and security of Cyprus .

Debate over the status and use of bases

The status of the SBAs has received attention since 2023 because of claims that they have been used to host US forces or to provide equipment or logistical support to Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The UK Government has said that the bases were being used to support the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza but not to provide military equipment for Israel. It was also used as a base for UK air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Strike against RAF Akrotiri in February 2026

Following the launch by Israel and the USA of military strikes against Iran on 28 February 2026, Iran launched a series of counter strikes in the region. On 1 March, RAF Akrotiri in the Cyprus SBA was hit by a drone. Other drones heading for the base were intercepted. There were no reported casualties.

The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has said that the SBAs have not and will not be used by US forces for the strikes against Iran and will not be used for launching strikes against Iran’s missile sources.