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HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, has embarked on a mission to the eastern Mediterranean to support the United Kingdom’s defensive activities in that strategic region. Departing from Portsmouth on Tuesday afternoon following recent maintenance work, HMS Dragon will become the only UK warship deployed there upon its arrival. Its principal task is to safeguard RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, especially after the base was targeted earlier this month by an Iranian-made drone, which inflicted only minimal damage to the runway. Defence Secretary John Healey informed the House of Commons that the drone originated from either Lebanon or Iraq.
In a move to bolster support, the government has placed the naval auxiliary vessel RFA Lyme Bay on heightened alert status, preparing it to assist British nationals in the Middle East if necessary. The RFA Lyme Bay, a Bay Class landing ship equipped with medical facilities and an aviation platform, is currently positioned in Gibraltar but has not yet been deployed. Its key capabilities make it suitable for humanitarian operations, including evacuations and medical support. The Ministry of Defence highlighted that this readiness measure is precautionary, and no mission has been assigned as of yet.
HMS Dragon itself is equipped with the Sea Viper missile system and supported by Wildcat helicopters from 815 Naval Air Squadron, armed with Martlet missiles designed to counter aerial drone threats. Defence Secretary Healey praised the extraordinary preparation work on the vessel, noting that what normally takes six weeks was accomplished in just six days. Since the escalation of hostilities on 28 February, the UK has deployed various military assets to the region, including three Wildcat helicopters with anti-drone capabilities and a Merlin helicopter in Cyprus. RAF Typhoon jets and F-35 aircraft have been actively engaged in intercepting Iranian drones over countries such as Jordan, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Counter-drone units continue to protect coalition forces in Iraq, successfully neutralizing threats overnight.
The UK government has refrained from joining offensive operations alongside the US and Israel against Iran, though it has provided US forces access to British airbases for defensive actions targeting Iranian missile and launch capabilities. Meanwhile, political criticism has emerged regarding the government’s response to the Middle East crisis. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch expressed concern that the UK’s efforts fell short, stating, “We have put bases in other people’s countries, and those countries are saying we’re not doing enough to help them. I think that’s absolutely shocking.” She further criticized the government’s perceived reluctance, saying, “If all you’re doing is trying to catch arrows, then surely you’ll get hit.” Amid these tensions, commercial air travel is slowly resuming across the region, although some airlines, such as British Airways, continue to cancel flights to certain destinations through late March. Defense officials report that more than 170,000 people have registered their presence in the affected areas, with 37,000 UK nationals evacuated so far
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