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The United Kingdom’s only warship deployed to the eastern Mediterranean during the Iran conflict has been forced into port over a «technical» issue, abruptly sidelining a key piece of Britain’s regional military presence as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s handling of the crisis.

The docking of HMS Dragon — a Type 45 destroyer tasked with defending U.K. assets and projecting force near the conflict zone — weakens Britain’s visible military posture at a sensitive moment, as a fragile U.S.-brokered pause takes hold and criticism from Trump administration officials and conservative voices builds over delays and restrictions that they say damaged London’s credibility with allies.

HMS Dragon was facing issues with its «onboard water systems,» which impacted water provisions for sailors on board, The Daily Mail first reported.

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«HMS Dragon is undertaking a routine logistics stop and a short maintenance period in the Eastern Mediterranean, allowing the ship to take onboard provisions, optimise systems and conduct maintenance,» the Ministry of Defense said in a statement to the outlet.

The ministry said in a statement to the Daily Mail that if necessary the ship will be «able to sail at short notice.»

«The UK continues to maintain a robust and layered defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, working in coordination with allies. This includes Typhoon and F-35 jets, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, and advanced counter-drone and air defence systems.»

While the Iran war began on Feb. 28, the U.K. did not announce the deployment of HMS Dragon to protect its air bases in Cyprus until five days later. The announcement came a day after Iranian-backed militia group Hezbollah struck RAF Akrotiri, one of the United Kingdom’s air bases in Cyprus. HMS Dragon did not depart from Portsmouth, England, until March 10 — a week after Starmer’s announcement.

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The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is seen moored in the Royal Navy Dockyard on Oct. 28, 2024, in Portsmouth, England. Keir Starmer confirmed on March 3, 2026, that the HMS Dragon would be deployed in Cyprus. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Trump and Starmer have been at odds since the conflict’s onset. While the United Kingdom has allowed the U.S. military to operate out of those bases, Starmer restricted the U.S. military from carrying out offensive missions from its bases. Trump compared Starmer’s approach to Iran to former United Kingdom Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who adopted an appeasement policy toward Nazi Germany during World War II.

During a press briefing, War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday called on «so-called allies,» referring to the United Kingdom, to «take notes» on what the U.S. and Israel accomplished.

Criticism of Starmer’s handling of Iran is also coming from United Kingdom Shadow Housing Secretary James Cleverly, a member of the Tory Party who is also a military reserve officer. Cleverly scrutinized Starmer’s decision to visit the Middle East after the ceasefire was brokered in an interview with GB News.

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«He was opposing the United States using their own aircraft from British bases. Then he was in favor of it. He delayed the decision to deploy British naval assets,» Cleverly said.

«He left British military personnel and our allies in the region not properly defended, and now he’s finally engaging properly with this situation,» Cleverly continued.

He claimed that Starmer’s conduct had cost the country «credibility on the world stage.»

\President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on July 28, 2025, in Turnberry, Scotland. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

«I know a lot of our friends and allies in the region and beyond are very disappointed in Britain’s response. And that is entirely because of decisions that Keir Starmer failed to make,» Cleverly said.

British journalist Patrick Chrysty, host of GB News, also criticized the United Kingdom’s efforts in the Iran war. He called Secretary of Defense John Healey a «bumbling idiot.»

«It took us a month to get HMS Dragon to Cyprus after Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah attacked our military base there… And right as the world holds its breath, HMS Dragon has a fault with its fresh water supply. It’s gone to dock for repairs. It’s out of action. This is an abomination!»

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John Hemmings, director of the National Security Centre at the Henry Jackson Society, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that Starmer’s visit to the Gulf is his way of showing the United Kingdom is in support of Western allies’ efforts in Iran.

«UK Prime Minister Starmer’s trip to the Persian Gulf shows the pressure he is under to ‘fly the flag’ and it’s clear that he’s trying to use Britain’s traditional networks and connections amongst the Gulf Arabs. In some ways, the Starmer team’s behind-the-scenes mediation strengths were proven in the Hamas-Israel peace deal with Jonathan Powell leading,

«This time, Yvette Cooper at the FCDO has been in the lead, running a virtual meeting of over 40 countries to coordinate a response to Iran’s blockade in early April.»

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense for comment.

California Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., have come out against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell after multiple bombshell reports were published Friday accusing Swalwell of sexually assaulting a former female staffer and allegedly sexually harassing other female staffers.

Amid repeated denials and cease and desist letters sent by Swalwell’s lawyer Thursday, one of the alleged victims shared her story publicly for the first time, accusing Swalwell of taking advantage of her while she was intoxicated. 

The alleged victim’s story also included claims Swalwell pressured her to send naked pictures of herself and sent sexually explicit photos of his own, pulled out his private parts while driving in a car with her and requested she perform oral sex on him. 

She said these and other incidents affected how Swalwell treated her professionally.

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On multiple occasions, the young staffer recalls blacking out from alcohol consumption, before waking up naked in Swalwell’s hotel bed with signs she had engaged in intercourse. Swalwell allegedly distanced himself after the incident. Their relationship faded before they reunited when she no longer worked for him, and another incident allegedly took place. 

After the bombshell report from the San Francisco Chronicle surfaced Friday, Swalwell’s campaign website displayed an error page for endorsements, and a slew of Democrats withdrew their endorsements and called for Swalwell to drop out of the race for governor. 

«The young woman who has made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and heard,» Pelosi told media outlets. «As I discussed with Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.»

«I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account, and I am deeply distressed by its allegations,» added Schiff. «This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately and believe that he should withdraw from the race.»

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Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is joined by Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks at a news conference on committee assignments for the 118th U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 25, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

«To the survivor who risked everything to come forward – I believe you. To the Democratic Party – you’d better hold him accountable,» Matt Mahan, a former San Jose mayor and fellow Democrat gubernatorial candidate in California said Friday. 

«If we don’t, we have no credibility asking anyone else to do the same. To Eric Swalwell – drop out.»

«The allegations against Congressmember Swalwell are deeply disturbing,» California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks said in a statement. «First, the stories of victims and survivors should be heard and believed. Period. 

«Second, any person engaged in misconduct must take responsibility and be held accountable for their actions – including a member of Congress and candidate for Governor. Finally, my call for all — repeat, all — candidates for Governor to ‘honestly assess the viability of their candidacy and campaign’ still stands. In fact, that call is more important now than ever before.» 

«The allegations are incredibly disturbing and unacceptable against Rep. Swalwell,» the California Teachers Association said on X. «We are immediately suspending our support. Our elected board will be meeting as soon as possible to follow our union’s democratic process to determine next steps.»

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a longtime friend and former campaign chair for Swalwell’s failed presidential campaign, is now backing away from his initial support for Swalwell amid the sexual misconduct allegations he is facing as the California congressman runs for governor.

Earlier this week, Gallego faced blowback for attempting to discredit a user on X who said sexual misconduct allegations against Swalwell will end up «kick[ing] his a–.» Gallego also defended Swalwell for being «targeted» in a separate post on social media, arguing he is the subject of sexual misconduct allegations because he is «in first place.»

However, after the report released by the San Francisco Chronicle, Gallego changed his tune dramatically.  

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Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., with Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and their spouses during a 2021 trip to Qatar, which was funded by the U.S.-Qatar Business Council. (Fox News)

«I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting and I take it seriously. What is described is indefensible,» Gallego posted on social media Friday after the report. «Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed. I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired.»

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Swalwell has fiercely denied the allegations that were first being elevated on social media by Democratically-aligned politicos, including Cheyenne Hunt, a former Capitol Hill staffer who is a nonprofit director at the group Gen-Z for Change, and Arielle Fodor, a «political content creator,» teacher and mother who refers to herself «Mrs. Frazzled» online. On Friday, the first first-hand account of these allegations surfaced. 

Neither Swalwell nor his attorney responded to Fox News Digital’s inquiries about the first-hand allegations of sexual misconduct against him. 

Following the San Francisco Chronicle’s report Friday, CNN published a separate report indicating three other women it had spoken to also alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by the Democratic congressman, including Swalwell sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.