Iran: Surprise support vessel RFA Tideforce spotted alongside HMS Dragon in Gibraltar as ship heads to Cyprus
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A naval support ship has been spotted in the vicinity of HMS Dragon as she makes her way to Cyprus.
RFA Tideforce, a Tide-class replenishment tanker operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), has been seen in the strait of Gibraltar today (March 17). Much has been discussed about the current plan to support the Type 45 destroyer during her deployment in the eastern Mediterranean.
HMS Dragon is an air-defence warship and will be tasked with providing the sovereign base at Akrotiri in Cyprus with air defences against drones from Iran. Depending on her operations, she may be joined by an RFA vessel to provide logistical support and possibly conduct evacuations from conflict areas such as Lebanon.
Israeli airstrikes and retaliatory attacks from the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah are continuing. RFA Lyme Bay was previously spotted leaving Gibraltar two days ago. As reported by Sky News, the Ministry of Defence said the Bay-class tanker was being deployed for ”training and drills”.
A spokesperson added: “As part of prudent planning, she is at heightened readiness as a precaution, should she be needed to assist in maritime tasks in the eastern Mediterranean." HMS Dragon was deployed to Cyprus last week (March 10) after a kamikaze drone struck a hangar at RAF Akrotiri, believed to have been fired from a pro-Iranian militia in western Iraq and Lebanon.
US President Donald Trump is trying to put pressure on prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to deploy more ships to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway where 20 per cent of the world’s oil flows. The area is currently blockaded by Iran in a bid to destabilise western nations through increasing fuel and oil prices. Mines have reportedly been laid in the region and cargo vessels have been attacked by drone and missile strikes.
Sir Keir said a “viable plan” is being formulated to reopen the strait. He added that autonomous mine-clearance systems have been forward deployed, but did not go as far as to announce the deployment of Royal Navy warships. President Trump has been calling for more naval support from allies, after previously stating the US did not need British support.
Mr Trump said he “liked” the prime minister but felt “disappointed” with his recent position in regard to the conflict with Iran, while describing Sir Keir’s immigration and energy policies as a “disaster”. He repeated his assertion that “unfortunately Keir is no Winston Churchill”.
“Even the aircraft carriers, he would only send them after we essentially won,” Mr Trump said. “I mean, he’s sending them when there are no planes left, when the missiles are down to like eight per cent of the missiles.”