Military helicopters deployed to shoot down drones

Two military helicopters are being deployed onboard a UK warship to Cyprus to help "bolster drone defence" amid the US-Israel war with Iran.

The Wildcat helicopters, from RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, will join HMS Dragon - a Type 45 destroyer - to protect British military personnel stationed on the island.

The helicopters - from the Royal Navy's 815 Naval Air Squadron - will have missiles onboard which are designed to intercept and shoot down incoming drones, defence officials said.

It comes a day after the runway of the British air base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, was hit by a drone. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it sustained "minimal damage".

In a statement on social media platform X, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: "As the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, we are deploying our Type-45 Destroyer, HMS Dragon, to the Eastern Mediterranean.

"We are also sending two Wildcat helicopters to Cyprus to bolster drone defence for our Cypriot partners.

"Working alongside our allies, our armed forces are committed to protecting regional stability and keeping people safe."

First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff General Sir Gwyn Jenkins confirmed the move, adding: "This is a crucial moment and our people are ready to react to what is required."

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Cypriot government said two further unmanned drones heading towards the base had been intercepted.

The families of service personnel have been moved away from the base as a precaution.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the drone that struck Akrotiri was an example of the "dangerous and indiscriminate attacks" by Iran and its proxies.

France is also reportedly planning to move air defence systems to Cyprus.

Healey said: "We are moving quickly to further reinforce our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"HMS Dragon brings world-class air defence capability, and our Wildcat helicopters are armed with Martlet missiles to counter the growing drone threat.

"I am deeply proud of the professionalism and bravery of our armed forces personnel who have in recent days, successfully taken action across the region to protect our allies and defend British interests."

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.