UK to send Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon to Cyprus

The UK government will deploy a Royal Navy warship to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster security around RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Sir Keir Starmer said 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 are also being sent, equipped with Martlet missiles designed to counter drone attacks. It comes a day after the runway of the British air base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, was hit by a drone, with the Ministry of Defence describing the damage as minimal. The MoD also noted that UK armed forces had shot down drones in Iraq, Jordan and Qatar over the last 24 hours. The Royal Navy has six Type 45 Destroyers, with three at readiness and the other three currently unavailable for major operations. Earlier on Tuesday, there had been speculation that HMS Duncan might be deployed to the area, but it was confirmed that HMS Dragon would be sent. "The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there," the prime minister stated. The MoD highlighted HMS Dragon as a highly capable air-defence warship able to launch eight missiles in under 10 seconds, and underlined the role of Wildcat helicopters in countering drone threats. Downing Street also noted the PM spoke with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, conveying outrage at the drone attack and reaffirming UK support for Cyprus and its forces.

#UKSecurityCyprus #HMSDragon #EasternMediterranean