REUTERS/Yiannis KourtoglouLONDON, March 3 - Britain is deploying HMS Dragon, an air defence destroyer, to Cyprus after the runway of its Akrotiri base there was hit by an Iranian-made drone. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday he was sending the naval vessel along with helicopters with counter-drone capabilities to the region, as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies. France and Greece said they would also send anti-missile and anti-drone systems after the British base on the island was hit on Monday. A British counter-drone team also took down drones in Iraqi airspace that were heading towards Coalition forces, the ministry said. On Monday, an RAF Typhoon operating with the joint UK‑Qatar 12 Squadron shot down an Iranian one-way attack drone directed at Qatar.

Source: The Times March 03, 2026 15:36 UTC