Britain has deployed the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon to Cyprus after an Iranian-made drone struck the RAF Akrotiri base, causing limited damage and prompting a regional military response. Two additional drones were intercepted.
The UK Ministry of Defence said the destroyer, equipped with the Sea Viper missile system, would strengthen Britain’s ability to detect, track and destroy aerial threats, including drones.
Two Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles are also being deployed.
The move follows British forces shooting down multiple drones in the region over the past 24 hours, including RAF F-35B jets engaging Iranian drones over Jordan for the first time.
Senior Cypriot officials said the Shahed drone flew at low altitude to evade radar and was likely launched by Iran-backed Hezbollah from Lebanon.
The strike prompted evacuations near the base, which is sovereign British territory but close to civilian areas.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said London was “fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British personnel based there.”
France and Greece also bolstered defences, with Paris sending air-defence systems and the frigate Languedoc, and Athens dispatching F-16 fighter jets and warships to support the Republic of Cyprus.
