HMS Dragon to be in port 'for days' as France and Greece send ships to warzone after attack on RAF base in Cyprus
The British warship with orders to defend a base in Cyprus from attacks by Iran is unlikely to set sail until early next week.
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HMS Dragon is moored in Portsmouth while it is supplied for duty, a process which is likely to take days.
According to Navy Lookout, the warship was taken out of dry dock and rushed through maintenance, and the loading of munitions and supplies began yesterday.
Pictures from Portsmouth harbour today show Royal Navy personnel on board and supply ships floating near to the destroyer.
She is expected to set sail early next week at the earliest.
It will take the Type 45 Destroyer around seven days to reach its destination, meaning service personnel at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus will be defended by French and Greek ships for another week.
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In a post on X, Sir Keir said: "The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there.
"We're continuing our defensive operations and I've just spoken with the president of Cyprus to let him know that we are sending helicopters with counter-drone capabilities and HMS Dragon is to be deployed to the region.
"We will always act in the interest of the UK and our allies."
LBC has contacted the Ministry of Defence for comment.
Former member of the special forces Jason Birch posted online: “What an embarrassment. I’m here in Cyprus as a proud British veteran whilst our base here is attacked by Iran’s proxies with no defence measures in place aside from sending surveillance aircraft into the air which are not going to prevent or deter incoming.
"What we do have, is a limp, wet lettuce of a leader, who is scratching his head whilst Greek and French warships are roaring headlong to the island."
A blast hit the runway at RAF Akrotiri on Sunday night, coming within 800 yards of thousands of Brit military personnel and their families stationed on the island.
Air raid sirens were activated and RAF Typhoons and F-35B Lightning jets were scrambled alongside air to air refuelling tankers.
The attack was carried out using an Iranian Shahed drone, likely launched from Lebanon.
Shahed drones have been used heavily in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine and have highlighted a concerning gap in the UK’s readiness for war.
HMS Dragon is being readied to depart for the Mediterranean and will be accompanied by two Wildcat helicopters equipped with so-called "drone busting" Martlet missiles, so it can protect Britain's bases in Cyprus.
Since Saturday, Iran has launched thousands of attack drones towards countries across the Gulf.
Officials described their actions as “nothing other than reckless, haphazard and dangerous” as they said 10 countries have been targeted.
“Don’t rule anything out,” they added, “We’re going to have to settle in.
“We’ve got to make sure we protect our interests for the short term and medium term as well.”
The number of missiles being fired by Iran is said to be slowing down, in part thanks to the targeting by the US and Israel on launch sites.
But it’s understood that the country may have enough fire power for “several more days”, which comes with a warning of them falling back on cheap systems, like drones, in the way that Russia has in Ukraine.