London, United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said HMS Dragon’s deployment to Cyprus was delayed because the ship was being carefully loaded with the ammunition and capabilities it needs, following an Iranian-made drone hitting the island last week.
Starmer addresses reported delay at Portsmouth
Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Starmer rejected reports that the ship’s departure was delayed because trade unions only allowed port workers at Portsmouth to work between 9am and 5pm. He said navy personnel and civilians had been working 22-hour shifts on the deployment.
Criticism of opposition comments on forces in the region
Starmer criticised opposition leader Kemi Badenoch over remarks she made on television last week that British forces in the Middle East are “just hanging around.” He said that was how she described British pilots in the region.
Starmer said British personnel have been flying sorties in seven of the ten countries in the region day and night, taking out incoming strikes and protecting others while risking their own lives. He said Badenoch should apologise.
Naval and air deployments to Cyprus
HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, set sail from Portsmouth on Tuesday evening and is expected to arrive in Cyprus next week. It was also reported that the UK plans to send RFA Lyme Bay, a dock landing ship, to Cyprus in the coming days.
On Monday, the UK announced the deployment of a Merlin Mk2 helicopter and an engineering team, along with further AW159 Wildcat helicopters in addition to the two that arrived last week.
Defence talks and use of Akrotiri base
Last Thursday, British Defence Secretary John Healey visited Cyprus and met his Cypriot counterpart Vasilis Palmas, and said top experts had arrived on the island to help coordinate air defences.
Starmer also confirmed last week that Cyprus, including the UK’s Akrotiri air force base, has been used as a launchpad for missions to engage and shoot down drones fired from Iran.
What do you think the UK’s additional naval and air deployments to Cyprus will change in the coming days?