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The attack on the British base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, has caused great concern. The base was hit by a Shahed drone, while the Cypriot President declared that "Cyprus is not involved in military operations".
The Shahed drone that hit the base caused only limited material damage to the runway, while reports also mention a second identical drone, which was immediately intercepted.
Britain's Defense Secretary, John Healy, announced on Sunday morning that two Iranian missiles were fired towards Cyprus and were intercepted. Britain has military bases in Cyprus. In a post, the Cypriot Government Spokesperson clarified that "regarding statements and publications referring to the launch of missiles towards Cyprus, it is clarified that this is not the case 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."
What is a Shahed drone?
The Shahed drone is an Iranian-made unmanned aircraft that has been widely used in recent years in military conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.
Shahed belong to the category of so-called "walking munitions" or suicide drones. Unlike classic reconnaissance drones, they do not return to their base. They are designed to carry an explosive warhead and hit their target directly, self-destructing upon impact.
They are manufactured in Iran and are considered relatively low-cost compared to cruise missiles or other precision-guided munitions, making them particularly attractive as a means of mass attacks against military installations and critical infrastructure.
Technical characteristics and operational use
Some versions of the Shahed family have a range of several hundred or even over 1,000 kilometers, depending on the model. They are guided by navigation systems (GPS/INS) and can be programmed to hit predetermined coordinates.
Drones of this type have become particularly well-known due to their extensive use by Russia in the war against Ukraine, where they were used to attack energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. Their use has shown the potential to cause significant damage at relatively limited economic cost.
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