UK reinforces Middle East presence after attack on Cyprus base

British helicopters equipped with counter-drone protection systems have begun arriving in Cyprus, the UK Ministry of Defence said on Friday, March 6, according to CNN.

The deployment follows an attack on a military base on the island. In response to the incident, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain would send the HMS Dragon, a warship of the Royal Navy, as well as AW159 Wildcat helicopters to the region.

The Ministry of Defence also said that four additional Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets are expected to arrive overnight in Qatar to reinforce the UK’s regional military presence.

According to the ministry, the United Kingdom had already deployed aircraft the previous night to carry out air patrol missions over Qatar, Jordan, and the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.

Despite the reinforcements, Starmer has repeatedly stated that the United Kingdom will not participate alongside the United States and Israel in offensive military operations against Iran.

By Tamilla Hasanova