'Added layers' of defence bolstering RAF Akrotiri after drone attack - prompting HMS Dragon response
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A Shahed-type drone slammed into one of the hangars on the Cyprus base
Critical defences have been enhanced on a British base in Cyprus after it was hit by a drone - prompting a Royal Navy response.
Major General Tom Bewick confirmed that RAF Akrotiri has been bolstered following the attack five weeks ago. A Shahed-type drone smashed into one of the hangars, believed to have been fired from a pro-Iranian militia in Iraq or western Lebanon.
Families had to be evacuated from the base in early March, as bombing raids from a US-Israeli coalition intensified over Tehran - causing retaliatory attacks that plunged the Middle East into chaos. Maj Gen Bewick, Commander of British Forces Cyprus, said another attack is unlikely but “there is a threat” of it.
He told Forces News: “A lot of new capabilities have come in. What we’ve essentially done is made sure that as far as it’s possible to do so, the incident that happened five weeks ago won’t happen again. We’ve protected against all the other threats there are out there by adding layers to what is an already impressive layered defence.”
Various aircraft and other capabilities have been deployed after hostilities broke out in the region on February 28. This includes Royal Navy Merlin and Wildcat helicopters - equipped with drone-busting Martlet missiles.
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The Royal Air Force (RAF) has deployed various aircraft including Typhoons, F-35B fighter jets, and other capabilities. More than 500 additional personnel and air defences have been sent to secure the island since February.
A two week ceasefire was agreed between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran, but hostilities could arise again. Maj Gen Bewick added: “This is an operational airbase just like the bases in the UK. People shouldn’t shy away from that, it’s fundamentally why we’re here on Cyprus. It’s a busy and really crucial part of the world, as events over the last five weeks have played out.”
Portsmouth-based destroyer HMS Dragon was deployed three weeks after the drone attack on Cyprus. After a busy three weeks of operations - which involved weapons drills and trials with MH-65 Dolphin and other helicopters - she was placed into a short maintenance period after a “technical issue” was found in her water supply systems.
The slow response prompted criticism from Cypriot officials. President Nikos Christodoulides called for an "open and frank" conversation about the future of the air bases, questioning British sovereignty. Armed forces minister Al Carns said talks about the Sovereign Base Areas on the island were "not in question".
He said: “Of course we’ve got to continue a dialogue with our Cypriot partners to ensure we’re protecting the 1.5m British tourists that come here every year and indeed our allies. We can never predict the response of any country in a crisis. Iran acted recklessly, shot out against ten different countries.
“We’ve increased air defence here and made sure it’s integrated with all our allies and partners across the region. We’ve got some of the best forces working across the Navy, Army, Air Force, RAF Regiment all here located across the island."