Iran: HMS Dragon fires guns and shoots at targets on Cyprus voyage amid Middle East strikes and Trump plan
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
A British destroyer deployed to Cyprus amid ongoing strikes in the Middle East opened fire and shot at targets during her voyage.
HMS Dragon conducted a series of weaponry exercises during her two week sailing to the eastern Mediterranean after leaving Portsmouth on March 10. Video footage released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) shows personnel firing her suite of guns.
Her 230-strong ship’s company completed various Fleet Operational Standards and Training exercises. These included real life scenarios as air defence serials, damage control drills, firefighting ops, medical response situations, man overboard drills, and crash on deck training.
Gunnery serials tested her upper deck 4.5ins gun, 30mm and phalanx weaponry. HMS Dragon has the capability to seek out and track hundreds of targets at once. Her Sea Viper missile system can then be used to eliminate them, with the ability to launch eight missiles in under 10 seconds and direct up to 16 missiles simultaneously. These travel at up to four times the speed of sound.
First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said: “HMS Dragon was rapidly brought to readiness and deployed from Portsmouth earlier this month and will now play her full part in defending Cyprus and the wider eastern Mediterranean. Equipped with the cutting-edge Sea Viper system, she can tackle a wide range of threats. On her way to the region, her crew have undertaken essential training to ready themselves for this mission, and I have every confidence that they will rise to the task before them. In uncertain times, her presence is a visible demonstration of the Royal Navy’s commitment to protecting our people and our interests, at home and overseas.”
US President Donald Trump has sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran in an effort to pause the war in the Middle East. This is also in an effort to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing pressures on the cost of living.
Tehran did not confirm it received the plan and publicly dismissed the diplomatic effort, while launching more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including an assault that sparked a huge fire at Kuwait International Airport. Iran also continued to come under attack.
At least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division will be sent to the Middle East in the coming days. The paratroopers are trained to jump into hostile or contested areas to secure key territory and airfields. The Pentagon is also in the process of sending about 5,000 more Marines, trained in amphibious assaults, and thousands of sailors to the region.
Mediators are pushing for possible in-person talks between the Iranians and the Americans, perhaps as soon as Friday in Pakistan. Speaking Tuesday at the White House, Mr Trump said the US is “in negotiations right now” and that the participants included special envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, secretary of state Marco Rubio and vice president JD Vance.