Britain has yet to decide whether it will deploy a warship to protect its Royal Air Force base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, following a drone strike that hit the facility earlier this week.
An Iranian-made Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle struck a runway at the base in the early hours of Monday. Further drone attacks targeting the installation were intercepted later in the day. Akrotiri and nearby villages remain evacuated. London has said UK assets were targeted by Iran.
The Times newspaper reported that Defence Secretary John Healey met senior military figures on Tuesday to discuss potentially sending the destroyer HMS Duncan to the region. The Ministry of Defence did not immediately comment.
France Sends Air Defences and Frigate
At the same time, France is moving to reinforce Cyprus’ air and maritime defences. Two senior Cypriot government officials said Paris will send anti-missile and anti-drone systems to the island. French President Emmanuel Macron also informed Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides that a frigate would be deployed.
Cyprus has sought additional European support. Christodoulides requested that Germany deploy a frigate during a phone call with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who responded positively, with a formal decision expected. Discussions are also under way with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Greece has already dispatched military assets to Cyprus following Monday’s drone incursions. Four Greek F-16 fighter jets are stationed in Paphos, while two frigates — including one equipped with an anti-drone jamming system — have been deployed around the island.
Elsewhere, French Rafale jets carried out “sky security operations” over the United Arab Emirates, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, after an Iranian drone strike hit a naval base in Abu Dhabi over the weekend.
The developments mark a widening European military footprint in Cyprus, as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran spills further across the region.
