- Title: British Defence Minister Healey leaves RAF base in Cyprus
- Date: 5th March 2026
- Summary: CHOUEIFAT, LEBANON (MARCH 5, 2026) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DAMAGED BUILDING IN THE AFTERMATH OF OVERNIGHT STRIKE MAN WALKING, SURROUNDED BY RUBBLE AND DAMAGED CAR DAMAGED CAR AND RUBBLE DAMAGED BUILDING MAN WALKING IN FRONT OF DAMAGED BUILDING / RUBBLE VARIOUS OF DAMAGED BUILDING BEIRUT SOUTHERN SUBURBS, LEBANON (MARCH 5, 2026) (REUTERS) MAN STANDING ON RUBBLE, LOOKING AT
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: AKROTIRI BASE CYPRUS DRONE EU IRAN UK USA
- Location: AKROTIRI, CYPRUS
- City: AKROTIRI, CYPRUS
- Country: Cyprus
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe
- Reuters ID: LVA001133905032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: British Defence Secretary John Healey visited the RAF base in Cyprus on Thursday (March 5) and also met his Cypriot counterpart to discuss plans of further reinforcements on the Mediterranean island following a drone strike on the base.
“The longstanding friendship between the UK and the Republic of Cyprus is strong in the face of Iranian threats,” Healey said on X.
Britain has said it will deploy a destroyer to the region along with additional helicopters equipped with counter‑drone capabilities, although HMS Dragon is not expected to arrive until next week.
Western officials believe a drone that hit the Akrotiri base on Cyprus was most likely launched by Iran-backed Hezbollah from Lebanon.
Both Britain and the Cypriot administration have said the island would not be used for attacks on Iran. But the UK has given the United States permission to launch limited defensive actions from some British bases.
(Production: Stamos Prousalis, Deborah Kyvrikosaios) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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