The Times newspaper reported on Tuesday that Britain plans to send a warship to defend its Royal Air Force Akrotiri in Cyprus against Iranian attacks.

A 'drone attack' by Iran hit the runway at the Akrotiri base early on Monday morning. Britain said that UK assets were targeted.

The Times reported, citing three sources, that defence minister John Healey met with senior military officials on Tuesday, where?they discussed the possibility of sending HMS Duncan into the region.

The Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comments on the report.

The'semiofficial Cyprus News Agency' (CNA), reported earlier?on?Tuesday that France planned to?send anti-missile and anti-drone?systems?to Cyprus. (Reporting and writing by Sarah Young; editing by William James).

(source: Reuters)