A British Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Cyprus -- which, like Italy, is a member of the EU -- was attacked early Monday by Iranian-made drones, one of which hit the runway.

A Cypriot government source told AFP the same day that the drones had been launched from nearby Lebanon, probably by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The Middle East has becomed gripped by a war triggered by US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on Saturday that killed the Islamic republic's supreme leader and other officials.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks against countries in the region hosting US bases.

Italy on Tuesday continued to evacuate its citizens from Gulf nations, including around 300 people flown back to Rome from Muscat in Oman, and a group of 200 mostly students from Abu Dhabi who were being flown to Milan, the foreign ministry said.

Others are being bussed out of the UAE to Oman, and also from Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, to Saudi Arabia.