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 spiral.

Two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters are also being sent, equipped with Martlet missiles which are 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 - causing what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) described as "minimal damage".

The MoD also said 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 of those at various stages of readiness and the other three in maintenance and currently unavailable.

Currently, the Royal Navy has no major warship in the Mediterranean region.

Earlier on Tuesday, it had been speculated that HMS Duncan might be deployed to the area, but Sir Keir confirmed on X that HMS Dragon would be sent.

"The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there," he said.

"We will always act in the interest of the UK and our allies."

The MoD said HMS Dragon - which is crewed by more than 200 people - was "one of the most capable air defence warships in the world" and could launch eight missiles in under 10 seconds.

Defence Secretary John Healey said: "We are moving quickly to further reinforce our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"HMS Dragon brings world-class air defence capability, and our Wildcat helicopters are armed with Martlet missiles to counter the growing drone threat."

Downing Street said the PM had spoken to the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, on Tuesday afternoon.

"He expressed his outrage at the drone attack on the RAF Base in Akrotiri on Sunday evening – adding that it is a deeply concerning example of the highly dangerous, indiscriminate attacks by Iran and its proxies taking place across the region," a spokesperson said.

"[The prime minister] set out his unwavering support for Cyprus and its security."

In the last 24 hours, the MoD said RAF F-35B jets had shot down drones over Jordan - the first time this type of jet has destroyed a target on operations – supported by Typhoon jets and a Voyager tanker aircraft.

British forces in Iraq have also taken down an unspecified number of drones in Iraqi airspace - said to be heading towards coalition bases in the country - using counter drone systems on the ground.

And on Monday an RAF Typhoon shot down and Iranian attack drone said to be directed at Qatar. RAF Typhoons have been operating from Qatar as part of an enhanced defensive posture in the region.

There will be questions as to why a Royal Navy destroyer was not deployed to the region sooner - US military build-up in the region has been going on for months.

The ship would likely be used to strengthen the air defences around RAF Akrotiri.

The MoD says the base already has some ground-based air defence and counter-drone systems.

Later on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France would deploy its only aircraft-carrier - the Charles de Gaulle - to the Mediterranean in response to the deepening crisis.

During a short address to the nation, President Macron also said France would send a frigate equipped with air-defence systems to Cyprus and that France would stand by its allies.

"Cyprus was targeted these last few days and they need our support," he said.

On Monday, Starmer told the House of Commons that the earlier drone strike on RAF Akrotiri had not been "in response to any decision that we have taken" and that it had been launched before the UK announced it would allow the US to use its bases.

He added that the bases in Cyprus were not going to be used by the US because they were "not suitable".

Starmer said: "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest.

"That is what I've done, and I stand by it."

However, Starmer added: "It is clear that Iran's outrageous response has become a threat to our people, our interests, and our allies and it cannot be ignored."

Trump used a news conference on Tuesday to express further dissatisfaction with Sir Keir over the initial refusal for the US to use the British base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for launching the first strikes on Iran.

"This is not Winston Churchill we're dealing with," he said.