LONDON/DUBAI: The UK Ministry of Defence has ramped up its military presence in the Middle East in response to ongoing threats from Iranian drone and missile attacks. To protect allied nations and strategic bases, the Royal Air Force has intensified defensive patrols using Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets over Cyprus, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain.
In a recent operation, a UK counter-drone unit successfully intercepted and downed two Iranian drones in a high-threat zone. Adding to the naval strength, HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air-defence destroyer, has been deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean to integrate with Cyprus’s regional defense systems.
This move follows reports from Reuters regarding criticism over previous delays after an Iranian-made drone struck the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus on March 1. (Gulf New)
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