Britain steps up air defences in Cyprus following fears of regional escalation

Britain has sent additional fighter aircraft to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to strengthen security amid concerns that a potential US strike on Iran could escalate into a broader regional conflict.

According to The Times, six F-35B fighter jets departed RAF Marham on February 6 and were deployed to Cyprus to help protect the base and the UK’s sovereign base areas if the security situation in the region were to deteriorate significantly. The military routinely reviews security arrangements at the base and has decided to increase the number of assets stationed there.

The newly arrived F-35s will operate alongside RAF Typhoon jets already based in Cyprus, which are conducting missions over Iraq and Syria. The F-35s have been deployed in a defensive role, while the Typhoons are permanently stationed at RAF Akrotiri as part of Operation Shader, the UK-led mission targeting the remaining elements of Islamic State.

The deployment follows another recent reinforcement in the region. Last month, four RAF Typhoons from the joint UK–Qatar No. 12 Squadron were sent to Qatar at the request of the Qatari government, which cited heightened regional tensions as the reason for the move.

The latest decision comes as Iran and the US appeared to step back slightly from the brink of renewed confrontation on February 6, after negotiators held talks amid a significant military buildup across the region.

It was the first time the two sides had sat down face to face since the US joined Israeli strikes on Iran last June, badly damaging its nuclear facilities, and interrupting a negotiating track.

Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, described the talks as positive, saying that the two sides had agreed to proceed with negotiations. Washington’s position was less immediately clear, with the announcement of fresh sanctions on Iran’s oil exports just moments after the talks in Oman ended.

By Tamilla Hasanova