An Italian Navy vessel is preparing to sail to Cyprus, a navy spokesperson said on Friday, as part of a joint European mission to protect the island after it came under Iranian fire this week.
The frigate Federico Martinengo will be deployed in the Cyprus area as part of a coordinated mission also involving France, Spain and the Netherlands.
A British Royal Air Force base in Cyprus was targeted on Monday by an Iranian-made drone following the US and Israeli attack against Tehran.
The Italian Navy said around 160 crew members will be on board the vessel, which is expected to depart from Italy by Saturday.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Gavin Jones and William Maclean)