Britain is planning to send a warship to defend its Royal Air Force Akrotiri base in Cyprus from Iranian attacks, the Times newspaper said on Tuesday.
It said that HMS Duncan is ‘likely’ to be deployed to defend RAF Akrotiri.
The Times report, citing three sources, said defence minister John Healey had a meeting on Tuesday with senior military figures, in which they discussed sending HMS Duncan to the region.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the House of Commons on Monday that the RAF would not take part in offensive action. He also confirmed that the bases in Cyprus had not been used by US forces for offensive strikes, and that the drone which hit Akrotiri was launched before the UK made its announcement allowing American forces limited use of British facilities.
The drone struck within yards of British personnel, though there were no casualties.
The attack was the first strike on a British military base in Cyprus since 1986, and marked a significant escalation in the conflict. Later on Monday, British forces intercepted two further drones heading toward the base.
IRGC General Sardar Jabbari subsequently threatened to “launch missiles at Cyprus with such intensity that the Americans will be forced to leave the island,” claiming US aircraft had relocated to Cyprus.
President Christodoulides, who has stressed that Cyprus is not taking part in any military operation, cancelled a scheduled informal meeting of EU affairs ministers following the strike. Cyprus currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
Cyprus is not a NATO member, though it is covered by an EU treaty joint defence clause, which had not been formally discussed as of Monday.
(With information from Reuters)
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