Newsroom
Britain plans to send a warship to defend its Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Akrotiri in Cyprus from potential Iranian attacks, according to the Times newspaper.
Citing three unnamed sources, the report said British Defense Secretary John Healy met with senior military officials Tuesday to discuss deploying the HMS Duncan to the eastern Mediterranean. The Defense Ministry has not immediately commented on the report.
The move comes as the region’s security situation grows increasingly tense. Earlier Tuesday, Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported that France is sending a frigate to Cyprus along with anti-missile and anti-drone systems to bolster the island’s defenses.
HMS Duncan is ‘likely’ to be deployed to defend RAF Akrotiri as Middle East conflict escalates.
— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) March 3, 2026
Follow the latest updates
Cyprus has already received support from Greece, which has deployed four F-16 fighter jets to Paphos, with two frigates on their way to the island. The combined presence of British, French and Greek forces reflects growing concern over recent Iranian drone attacks, including Monday’s strike on the Akrotiri base.
In a statement posted on his X account, Healy confirmed that a one-way attack drone struck the RAF Akrotiri base late Monday night, hitting a hangar. He said there were no casualties and that damage was minimal, with base operations continuing as normal.
“The safety of our personnel and their families is our absolute priority,” Healy said, confirming that, as a precaution, family members living at the base are being moved to alternative accommodation elsewhere in Cyprus. He stressed the relocation is not a full evacuation but a temporary safety measure while assessments continue.
Healy said British forces responded “swiftly and professionally” and noted that defensive measures at the base had already been strengthened in recent weeks, including additional radar systems, air defense capabilities and the deployment of F-35 fighter jets.
An investigation into the drone’s origin is ongoing. British officials said their current assessment indicates the drone was launched before the UK prime minister approved the use of British bases by U.S. forces.
Officials added that reinforcements are intended as precautionary defensive steps as Iran’s actions across the region become increasingly unpredictable.
The expanded military presence shows that Cyprus is growing in strategic importance as the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict escalates in the eastern Mediterranean, placing the island at the center of rising regional tensions.
