Keir Starmer deploys warship HMS Dragon to Cyprus as Iran disaster spirals

Keir Starmer has announced warship HMS Dragon and helicopters with counter-drone capabilities will be deployed to Cyprus after a UK airbase was targeted by a drone.

The vessel is one of the Royal Navy’s six air defence destroyers and is described as “one of the most advanced warships in the world “. It comes amid a spiralling crisis in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran over the weekend.

Tehran has hit back with strikes across the Gulf States and on Sunday RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus was hit by a drone. Defence Secretary John Healey described the incident on Monday as “deeply concerning”. He said it was “an example of the dangerous and indiscriminate attacks by Iran & its proxies across the region”.

In a statement posted on X, Mr Starmer said today: “The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there.

“We’re continuing our defensive operations and I’ve just spoken with the President of Cyprus to let him know that we are sending helicopters with counter drone capabilities and HMS Dragon is to be deployed to the region. We will always act in the interest of the UK and our allies.”

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