London, United Kingdom. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom had not been left unprepared for a potential Middle East conflict or attacks on its bases in Cyprus, after an Iranian-made drone hit the runway at the Akrotiri air force base on Monday.
Starmer outlines UK deployments
Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Starmer said the UK had been pre-deploying capabilities in the region for weeks in close liaison with the United States. He said radar systems, ground-based air defence, counter-drone systems and F-35 jets had been pre-deployed.
He said that since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Saturday, multiple British F-35 and Typhoon fighter jets had been in operation in the Middle East and across Cyprus.
Starmer said further missions were flown overnight, with Typhoons defending Qatar and F-35s defending other regional parties. He referred to F-35s, likely launched from Cyprus, having engaged and shot down Iranian drones over Jordan on Tuesday night.
He said the UK was resupplying its air defence missiles and reiterated that two AW159 Wildcat helicopters would be deployed to Cyprus, arriving this week.
Starmer also said the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon would be deployed to the Mediterranean, and that bases outside Cyprus were being used by US forces to conduct operations to strike Iranian missiles and launchers. He said this was the agreement reached with the United States to protect UK nationals.
Opposition questions readiness
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the government’s actions, saying HMS Dragon was still in Portsmouth and that Type 45 destroyers cannot take out incoming missiles. She said the measures were not enough and that Starmer should be doing more.
Starmer responded by criticising the Conservative Party’s record in government between 2010 and 2024, saying it cut the defence budget and missed army recruitment targets every year for 14 years.
What do you think the UK should prioritise to protect its bases and nationals during regional tensions?
