The UK has expanded its military presence on Cyprus at RAF Akrotiri with additional aircraft, helicopters and surveillance assets as tensions in the region continue, according to the Ministry of Defence.
In an update released by the MOD, officials said the United States has begun using British bases for defensive operations aimed at preventing Iran from launching missiles into the region.
RAF Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets have continued conducting defensive air operations across Jordan, Qatar, Cyprus and the wider region in support of British interests and allied forces.
The Ministry of Defence also confirmed that a Merlin helicopter is being deployed to the region to provide additional airborne surveillance capability. The aircraft will reinforce defensive assets that were already pre-positioned earlier in the year.
The update follows an earlier announcement outlining additional deployments to the region. According to the MOD, Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters equipped with Martlet missiles have begun arriving in Cyprus. The missiles are designed to counter uncrewed aerial systems, including one-way attack drones.
Four additional RAF Typhoon aircraft are also scheduled to arrive in Qatar, further increasing the UK’s air power presence in the region.
The MOD said that during recent operations UK F-35 and Typhoon aircraft, supported by Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft, conducted defensive patrols over Qatar, Jordan and the Eastern Mediterranean.