The Cypriot government expressed criticism last week regarding how the UK responded after drone attacks targeted an RAF base on the island. Cypriot High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Kyriacos Kouros, told BBC Newsnight that people in Cyprus were “disappointed” with the level of information shared with residents after RAF Akrotiri was struck overnight last Sunday.

The attacks occurred just days after the initial US-Israel strikes on Iran early on Saturday morning, which subsequently prompted retaliation from Iran.

Home Office Minister Alex Norris stated that the UK remained “resolute” in safeguarding the nation’s interests, adding that “significant” time had been devoted to developing defensive systems in the eastern Mediterranean.

On Tuesday, the government announced that it would send the British warship HMS Dragon, which has air defence capabilities, to Cyprus following the drone strike on RAF Akrotiri. However, officials later clarified that the ship would not depart until later this week.

The criticism from the Cypriot government represents the latest concern raised about the UK’s handling of the war in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump described it as “shocking” that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer initially declined to allow the US to use UK military bases for the strikes. The UK has since authorised the use of its military bases for what it described as “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites.

Speaking in the House of Commons last week, Sir Keir defended the government’s stance on the conflict, saying that protecting British nationals remained his “number one priority.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the government should pay attention to what the UK’s allies in the region are saying.

“Cyprus feels that we have not been helpful. It is extraordinary that Bahrain and Kuwait and the UAE are publicly criticising us,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Separately, Defence Secretary John Healey travelled to Cyprus for a meeting with Cypriot Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas.

Following their talks, Healey said the “longstanding friendship” between the UK and Cyprus remained “strong in the face of Iranian threats.”

Earlier this week, the defence minister said the drone that struck RAF Akrotiri caused only “minimal damage” and resulted in no casualties.

Western officials said the Shahed-type drone had not been launched from Iran. However, they declined to disclose where the missile had originated.

Additional drones heading towards the base were intercepted, and the UK’s Ministry of Defence temporarily relocated family members from the base to alternative accommodation.

When asked by Newsnight whether people in Cyprus felt protected by the UK, Kouros said: “Let’s say the people are disappointed, the people are scared, the people could expect more.”

He added that he would “thank [Starmer] for paying attention to our worries and I’d love to see more.”
Norris told BBC Breakfast on Thursday that the defensive systems established in the eastern Mediterranean had made a “really significant impact in recent days.”

“We are absolutely resolute in protecting the nation’s interests – and that’s exactly what we’re doing, while of course working with our partners, of which Cyprus is obviously a very close one,” Norris said.

Some observers have questioned why the UK did not send a British naval vessel to the region earlier, particularly given the build-up of US military forces in the area and President Donald Trump’s public threats to attack Iran.
At present, the UK’s Royal Navy does not have a major warship deployed in the Mediterranean.

The Ministry of Defence said HMS Dragon would reinforce “RAF Typhoons, F-35B jets, ground-based counter-drone teams, radar systems, and Voyager refuelling aircraft already deployed.”

The French Armed Forces have stated that they currently have a warship stationed off the coast of Cyprus after President Emmanuel Macron ordered it to sail to the Mediterranean last Tuesday.

Badenoch called for stronger action from the government, telling the Today programme: “Once our bases had been attacked we became part of this.”

While emphasising that she does not want the conflict to escalate, Badenoch added: “We need to do what we can to stop the ability for these attacks to take place.

“Simply sitting back and hoping the opponents will be nice and leave us alone is not a strategy.”

Source: Parikiaki.com