Macron sends ships to defend British bases

@KatiePricesKnickers they are without a shadow of a doubt they are keeping going. They have massive bombers coming.

The Mullahs need to concentrate on retaining power now, they don’t have capacity to fight a war as well.
America and Israel need to keep going.

Israel will prevail they believe God gave them the whole of Israel not merely part of it.

"From the River to the Sea" will become fact.

I don't know. Iran has now apologised to its neighbours for attacking them. Maybe belatedly realising it is not good for diplomatic relations.

In a speech broadcast on state TV, their President declared that Iran would stop its attacks, unless attacked first.

Cyprus hasn't attacked Iran and won't do. The air bases belong to the UK not them. The UK aren't attacking Iran either, though I'm sure Iran aren't pleased about the UK allowing the US to use their bases for "defensive purposes".

Still, I think the Iran military have been diminished and need to pick their battles, literally. Hope & expect that your family will be completely safe @roses2

Surely all of this equipment being sent to Cyprus is going to make Cyprus more prone to attack?? We have family there and go several times per year but can't risk booking anything right now in case we can't get flights back.

It is to defend Cyprus.

Not to enter the war.
They have the balls to stand for what they believe in. Like it or not.

Indeed!

I was just reading El Pais.

Also, I watched Trump saying Spain had changed its statement about the bases (after his trade hints...) and just read that nope, Sanchez is sticking to his words....

Italy is also participating in defence. Again, not entering the war, though I know some posters would frame it as that.

It doesn't mean they are going to participate in attacking Iran, does it? So not entering the war.

How are they entering "the war" (or the "war" depending on your understanding) ?

Memories of the 2004 terrorist attack ?

Spain is sending a frigate to Cyprus

What are you talking about. Its our own base with our own people and we can't even defend it. Its pathetic. We are in big trouble. And its not the fault of the military.

Long time since I was in, but as far as I can tell, Sky Sabre replaced Rapier and should be deployable by air whether operated by the RAF or Army. That said, we’ve deployed one to Poland (which is probably a good idea) so only have another 8!! I would have to thought it faster and cheaper to air lift one of those across than send Dragon. I’ve also got to think that the Sky Sabre interceptor missiles are cheaper than what Dragon would be using to shoot things down, especially when you have the cost of getting her out of dock and round the Med - and never mind the lack of cover for the next week or two til she arrives.
Not trying to apportion blame across the services either - just seems very posturing to send Dragon when there seem to better options. But it does show “something is being done” for the political side and I’m sure there’s an Admiral getting excited somewhere :-)

Pushes buzzer: Complete lack of investment in defence due to complacency, or short sightedness, or hoping someone else would take responsibility for it?

Thank you for your service.

The grossest act ever does not write you a blank cheque to do whatever you please to whoever and how ever many you choose. We are each responsible for our own actions whatever the provocation.

Good.

Barrot has been saying all week that France will defend targets of Iranian attacks as requested/needed - not just Cyprus and its UK bases but, for example, Jordan specifically. If France has the bandwidth, why not send the (totally on-brand) message? Do you not think the practical help will do more good than harm to the actual victims?

Despite the pearl clutching on another thread, of course we would.

Mutual defence is the whole point of NATO. I thank the French and I know we would do the same to defend their interests from attack.

Many people have turned a blind eye, look on here many posters still are, plus control over what information gets out. Do you think that means they haven’t been suffering?

Yes, the RAF Regiment's main role is base defence but (and I stand to be corrected) I'm pretty sure it lost the anti-air element of that when Rapier was retired on the noughties - from that point on Ground Based Air Defence was an Army job..

If the Army deployed with anything...don't know....if they didn't...don't know why not

Just to avoid misdunderstanding here I'm an very time expired ex-Crab Air Defender myself but despite that I'm not trying to indulge in a bit of inter-service blame shifting here.

I suspect the decision to deploy, not deploy or wait must have been at senior political level...not by someone wearing Dark blue, light blue or Brown.

How about an answer to my question first?