HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean, three weeks after an Iranian-made drone struck the British base of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Defence Secretary John Healey announced. The Type 45 destroyer will begin 'operational integration into Cyprus’s defence' from Monday night, Healey told MPs.
The British government has faced criticism for the slow deployment of a warship to the region, following moves by Greece and France to send additional naval support to Cyprus after the attack. The Cypriot government has also expressed concern that the drone was able to hit the base, suggesting the presence of the British base on the island should be reviewed.
The vessel had been undergoing a six-week refit in Portsmouth but was made seaworthy in six days, with crews working 22-hour days. Opposition parties argued the UK government should have anticipated the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and moved assets closer to the region in advance.
Healey also confirmed reports that Iran had attempted to launch two strikes on the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands. 'There is no assessment that we are being targeted in the UK in that way. We have the resources, we have the alliances in place in order to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks,' he said.
Healey stated there were now an extra 500 air defence personnel in Cyprus, and that the UK is working closely with the Republic of Cyprus to coordinate contributions from allies, including the US, France, and Greece, to reinforce security. RAF and navy pilots have accumulated nearly 900 flying hours in defence of Cyprus, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, with more jets in the region than at any time in the last 15 years.
HMS Dragon is equipped with a Sea Viper missile system to intercept drones and missiles, which the Ministry of Defence said would 'play a vital role in safeguarding UK assets and interests in the Middle East'. Healey confirmed that the prime minister authorised the use of UK bases for US military defensive strikes against specific Iranian targets threatening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran is 'holding hostage' by laying mines and targeting ships, including Red Ensign vessels. The UK is deploying military planners into US Central Command to develop options to reopen the strait.
