WALES’ Red Dragon is heading into a potential flashpoint in the eastern Mediterranean.

The HMS Dragon has been deployed by the Royal Navy to waters around Cyprus to strengthen air defences following a drone strike on the British base at RAF Akrotiri.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the move as part of a wider effort to protect British personnel and assets in the region amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Advanced air defence role

HMS Dragon is one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 destroyers — regarded as among the most capable air defence warships in the world.

Equipped with the Sea Viper missile system and advanced radar, the vessel is designed to:

• Track and intercept hostile aircraft
• Destroy incoming missiles
• Counter drone threats
• Provide protective cover for allied forces

The deployment is understood to be focused on safeguarding UK interests, including RAF Akrotiri, one of Britain’s two Sovereign Base Areas on the island.

A Welsh symbol at sea

Although a UK warship, HMS Dragon carries a strong Welsh identity. Her crest bears the Red Dragon of Wales, and she has longstanding links with Welsh communities.

Commissioned in 2012, she has previously visited Cardiff and is often referred to as having a “Welsh heart” within the fleet.

With tensions escalating across the region, the presence of a Type 45 destroyer signals a serious defensive posture by the UK Government.

What happens next?

Defence analysts say such deployments are intended as both protection and deterrence — ensuring that British bases and personnel are shielded from further drone or missile attacks.

For Wales, the sight of the Red Dragon sailing toward a volatile theatre of operations will be a source of pride — and a reminder that Welsh symbols continue to play a role on the global stage.

Public urged to hang up and verify calls using a different phone

AN INCREASING number of reports have been received of criminals impersonating police officers in an attempt to trick victims into handing over cash or bank cards — either directly or via a courier.

The fraudsters use sophisticated and convincing tactics to gain trust. They may already have basic personal information, such as a victim’s name and address, which can often be easily obtained online, making the call appear legitimate.

Rebecca Williams, Fraud Safeguarding Officer, said: “These criminals are extremely convincing and may even suggest that the victim dials 999 to verify their identity. However, they remain on the line and do not disconnect the call, meaning when the victim attempts to ring the police, they are still speaking to the fraudster.

“We strongly advise anyone who receives a suspicious call to use a different phone — such as a mobile — to verify the caller’s identity, or to contact a trusted friend or family member before taking any action.

“If you have received a call like this, or have been persuaded to send money, please do not feel embarrassed or ashamed. These criminals use coercive and manipulative tactics to exploit trust and create panic.

“Dyfed-Powys Police are here to support you. We are continuing to assist victims who have lost tens of thousands of pounds through this scam.”

Police have issued a clear reminder that officers will never:

• Ask you to withdraw cash, send money or hand over your bank cards
• Send a courier to collect cash, bank cards or valuables from your home
• Contact you unexpectedly and request that you withdraw money as part of an investigation

Anyone who receives a suspicious call is urged to hang up immediately and report it to police or Action Fraud.

Senedd Members demand immediate investment in Withybush and Bronglais as election campaign intensifies

SENEDD Members Paul Davies and Samuel Kurtz have launched a fresh attack on Welsh Labour’s renewed pledge to deliver a new regional hospital for west Wales, branding the proposal a “desperate pre-election distraction” from mounting pressures on frontline services.

The intervention follows comments from First Minister Eluned Morgan, who indicated that plans for a new hospital serving west Wales would be progressed ahead of the Senedd election in May.

The concept of a new regional hospital has circulated for decades. Potential sites have previously been explored, but the project was effectively paused by Hywel Dda University Health Board, with delivery widely understood to be many years away due to financial and economic constraints.

Davies and Kurtz argue that communities in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion cannot afford to wait while uncertainty continues over services at Withybush Hospital and Bronglais Hospital.

Paul Davies MS said: “People in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion do not need vague long-term aspirations. They need certainty and investment now. Services are being centralised and downgraded while we are told to wait for something that is neither fully planned nor properly funded.

“Instead of chasing headlines, the Welsh Government should focus on safeguarding and strengthening services at Withybush Hospital and Bronglais Hospital. The message from our communities is clear: invest in the hospitals we have so people can access the care they need closer to home.”

The two MSs contend that immediate capital and workforce investment in existing facilities is the only credible way to guarantee patient safety, reduce excessive travel times for rural residents, and provide sustainable healthcare across west Wales.

They are calling on the Welsh Government to publish a fully costed and deliverable plan to protect core services at Withybush and Bronglais, rather than relying on what they describe as “recycled promises that never materialise.”

Samuel Kurtz MS added: “Just ahead of a Senedd election, the First Minister dusts off a decades-old plan and tries to sell it to local voters who can see straight through this empty promise.

“When 10,000 local people sign a petition demanding the Welsh Government intervene on Withybush, and all they can do is issue a press release about a plan that may not happen for another decade, it shows Labour are not serious about supporting the communities of west Wales.”

Government response

The Welsh Government maintains that long-term transformation of NHS services is necessary to secure sustainable healthcare provision across rural Wales. Ministers have argued that ageing hospital estates, recruitment pressures and increasing demand require modern infrastructure and strategic planning.

Labour has pledged significant capital investment in NHS facilities as part of its wider health strategy and says any future regional hospital would form part of a long-term programme designed to improve clinical resilience and patient outcomes.

The debate over the future configuration of hospital services in west Wales has intensified in recent years, particularly around emergency and specialist provision, with campaigners arguing that protecting local access must remain the priority.

Davies and Kurtz said confidence in local healthcare will continue to erode unless immediate, visible investment is made in frontline services at Withybush and Bronglais.

The Welsh Government and Hywel Dda University Health Board have been approached for further comment.