The UK has deployed a warship and helicopters to Cyprus after a Cyprus drone strike hit a British air base.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that an Iranian drone struck RAF Akrotiri shortly after midnight on Monday. The attack caused minor runway damage but injured no personnel.
In response, Britain is sending the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean. The government is also deploying two Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters equipped with counter-drone systems.
Starmer said he spoke with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides following the incident. He stressed that the UK remains fully committed to the island’s security and to protecting British forces stationed there.
“The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there,” Starmer said. He added that Britain will continue defensive operations in the region.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the military is moving quickly to reinforce its presence. He described HMS Dragon as providing “world-class air defence capability.” The destroyer carries the Sea Viper missile system, which can track and intercept multiple aerial threats simultaneously.
The Cyprus drone strike followed a series of Iranian attacks across the region. In recent days, British aircraft intercepted several drones. RAF F-35B jets destroyed targets over Jordan, marking the first operational strike for the aircraft. Typhoon jets and a Voyager tanker supported those missions.
A British counter-drone unit also neutralised threats over Iraq. Meanwhile, an RAF Typhoon from the joint UK-Qatar 12 Squadron shot down a one-way attack drone aimed at Qatar.
Starmer previously stated that Britain would not join offensive strikes against Iran. However, he acknowledged that Iranian forces have targeted British interests. He said Iran struck a base in Bahrain days earlier and narrowly missed British personnel.
The prime minister emphasised that Britain supports collective self-defence but will not engage in direct offensive operations. He also urged the estimated 200,000 British citizens in the region to follow Foreign Office travel guidance and register their presence.
The Cyprus drone strike has heightened tensions across the Eastern Mediterranean. Nevertheless, ministers insist the latest deployment aims to deter further attacks and protect British lives without escalating the wider conflict.
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