Why is the Royal Navy sending HMS Dragon to the Strait of Hormuz?

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The UK is providing jets, drones and our only operational Type 45 destroyer - HMS Dragon - as part of a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Thousands of tankers and cargo ships remain stranded after the strait was closed at the end of February due to the Iran war.

Defence Secretary John Healey stressed the deployment is a defensive measure to secure freedom of navigation - but will only be used once a ceasefire is in place.

Will these military assets actually make a difference, and how does the Ministry of Defence operate at a time of such political uncertainty?

Niall is joined by military analyst Professor Michael Clarke to find out more about the mission and the equipment the UK is sending.

For more on HMS Dragon, you can listen to our episode with defence analyst Tom Sharpe here.

Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk

(c) Sky News 2026: Why is the Royal Navy sending HMS Dragon to the Strait of Hormuz?