The UK government has announced the deployment of a Royal Navy warship to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster security around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, according to a report by the BBC.
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that HMS Dragon, a Type 45 Destroyer, will be sent to the region as the US-Israel war with Iran continues to escalate. Two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters, equipped with Martlet missiles, will also be deployed.
The decision comes after a drone attack on the British air base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, caused minimal damage, as described by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD also reported that UK armed forces had shot down drones in Iraq, Jordan, and Qatar over the last 24 hours.
Police and Military Response
The Royal Navy has six Type 45 Destroyers, with three currently at various stages of readiness. Defence Secretary John Healey stated that HMS Dragon brings world-class air defence capability, and the Wildcat helicopters are armed with Martlet missiles to counter the growing drone threat.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister had spoken to the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, on Tuesday afternoon, expressing outrage at the drone attack on the RAF Base in Akrotiri and offering unwavering support for Cyprus and its security.
International Involvement
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would deploy its only aircraft-carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, to the Mediterranean in response to the deepening crisis. A frigate equipped with air-defence systems will also be sent to Cyprus.
Sir Keir Starmer told the House of Commons that the earlier drone strike on RAF Akrotiri had not been in response to any decision made by the UK and that the bases in Cyprus were not suitable for use by the US.
