LONDON — The United Kingdom is currently deliberating the potential deployment of a warship to the Mediterranean in response to escalating Iranian drone attacks targeting the RAF Akrotiri military base situated in Cyprus, as disclosed by three sources familiar with the situation.
British officials have indicated that a definitive decision has yet to be reached; however, ministers are actively evaluating the deployment of a Type-45 destroyer, with HMS Duncan undergoing preparations for a possible mission.
“Our Armed Forces continue to fly defensive air missions to defend our people, bases, and partners in the region. We won’t provide running detail on specific operations or deployments. We keep our current capability in the region under constant review.”
A deployment of the warship could take several days to execute, highlighting the urgency of the situation. In a show of support, France has determined to send anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus, while Greece has dispatched frigates and fighter jets to the island after a series of drone incursions that occurred on Monday.
The drone threat escalated when a Shahed-type drone struck the British RAF base in Akrotiri during the early hours of Monday. Additional strikes later in the day were intercepted, leading to the evacuation of Akrotiri and nearby villages.
The Cypriot government has openly criticized the United Kingdom’s management of the Iranian conflict, suggesting that ambiguity surrounding the utilization of British bases on the island has inadvertently entangled Cyprus in the ongoing crisis affecting the Middle East.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the situation, asserting: “Our bases in Cyprus are not being used by U.S. bombers … The security of our friends and partners in Cyprus is of critical importance. And I want to be clear, the strike on Akrotiri in Cyprus was not in response to any decision we’ve taken. In our assessment the drone was launched prior to our announcement.”
While the origin of the drone strike has not been definitively confirmed, reports from local Cypriot media suggest that it likely originated from Lebanon.