Italy Sends Warship on Mission to Help Protect Cyprus

SadaNews - A spokesman for the Italian Navy said on Friday evening that one of its ships is preparing to head to Cyprus as part of a joint European mission to protect the island after it was subjected to Iranian bombing this week.

The frigate "Federico Martinengo" will be deployed in the Cyprus area as part of a coordinated mission that also involves France, Spain, and the Netherlands, according to the Reuters news agency.

An Iranian-made drone targeted a base belonging to the British Royal Air Force in Cyprus on Monday, following the American and Israeli attack on Tehran.

The Italian Navy reported that a crew of about 160 personnel will be on board the ship, which is expected to leave Italy by Saturday.