British Defence Secretary John Healy thanked the families of the British servicemen who were evacuated from Akrotiri RAF base in Cyprus, stressing that they support the personnel who are on the front line of defence against drone attacks.
During his visit today to the British Bases in Akrotiri, he said that many families staying at the base were temporarily transferred to hotels, following a decision made in the early hours of Sunday. As he explained, the decision was taken when it became clear that the Iranian regime was escalating threats and proceeding with increasingly extensive and indiscriminate strikes in the region.
"My first message is a big thank you. You support the armed forces personnel who are in Cyprus and are doing an excellent job," Healy said, adding that many Britons and Cypriot citizens would like to express the same gratitude.
The British minister also noted that the UK's military presence on the island has been significantly strengthened, with around 400 additional British military personnel deployed as part of strengthening air defence and protecting both the base and the wider region.
Referring to the incident in which an Iranian-made drone managed to hit the base, Healy said that no defensive device can absolutely prevent every attack.
"This is a small drone. Our best assessment is that it was launched from Lebanon and not from Iran," he noted.
At the same time, he underlined that the United Kingdom has already significantly strengthened defense systems in Cyprus, increasing radar surveillance levels, drone counter systems and electronic warfare capabilities.
"We had already strengthened air defenses weeks before the crisis began, to ensure that we are doing everything possible to protect our bases and personnel," he concluded.
