By Trendsetter Tribune 
In a significant escalation of the regional conflict, UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed on Sunday, March 1, 2026, that two Iranian missiles were fired in the direction of Cyprus, a European Union member state and home to two major British Sovereign Base Areas.
- The Incident: Two ballistic missiles launched by Iran traveled toward the island but were successfully intercepted before causing any damage. While some reports suggest the missiles landed in the Mediterranean Sea after falling short, the UK Ministry of Defence remains on high alert.
- Targeting Unclear: Secretary Healey stated it is currently “not clear” if the missiles were intentionally targeting the British military facilities at RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia, or if the island was caught in “indiscriminate” retaliatory fire aimed broadly at the region.
- Cyprus Government Response: President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus held an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. Following a call with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Christodoulides told the public that Cyprus was “not a target” and emphasized that the island’s authorities are coordinating closely with the UK.
- Regional Context: The launch toward Cyprus is part of a massive wave of Iranian strikes following “Operation Epic Fury,” the U.S.-Israeli campaign that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Other targets on Sunday included major travel hubs and military bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE.
- British Personnel at Risk: Healey also revealed that roughly 300 British service members in Bahrain were “within several hundred yards” of Iranian missile impacts during strikes on Saturday night.
The presence of Iranian missiles over EU territory marks a dangerous expansion of the theater of war, drawing the Mediterranean more directly into the conflict.