HMS Dragon reaches Gibraltar en route to Cyprus

The United Kingdom’s Type 45 destroyer the HMS Dragon reached Gibraltar on Tuesday, crossing into the Mediterranean as it makes its way from the UK to Cyprus.

The ship had set sail from Portsmouth last week, with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer having announced its deployment, alongside the deployment of two AW159 Wildcat helicopters, after Cyprus’ British Akrotiri air force base was hit by an Iranian-made drone at the beginning of the month.

Starmer had last week been forced to explain perceived delays to the ship’s deployment, telling the UK’s parliament that the ship was being “carefully … loaded with the anti-strike ammunition and capability that it needs” before it could set sail eight days after the drone strike.

In the meantime, a third Wildcat helicopter and a Merlin Mk2 helicopter have also since been sent to the island, while British Defence Secretary John Healey had promised that “top experts” had arrived on the island “to help coordinate the air defences”.

Additionally, the dock landing ship the RFA Lyme Bay set sail from Gibraltar on Monday, and is now also en route to Cyprus.

Starmer has also confirmed that the Akrotiri base itself is being used as the launchpad for operations in the region in which British aircraft engage and shoot down drones launched by Iran.

However, Starmer’s predecessor Rishi Sunak has since accused him of lacking “strategic acumen” due to perceived delays in the deployment of British assets to the region in the aftermath of a drone strike on Akrotiri base.

“Given how much notice we had of these strikes, why was no ship moved to the Mediterranean to help protect our interests and allies? It is frankly embarrassing that the French appear to be doing more to protect Cyprus than we are, even though Cyprus is only a target because of our sovereign bases there,” he said.

His reference to France came ahead of a visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Cyprus earlier this month, and with the French frigate Languedoc having arrived on the island within 72 hours of the drone strike.

The frigate was later joined in Cyprus’ vicinity by the aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle, which is now stationed south of Limassol.