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British military forces stationed in Iraq successfully intercepted and destroyed two Iranian drones during an overnight assault, Defence Secretary John Healey revealed. Despite these defensive actions, several drones managed to strike the coalition base located in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region, resulting in injuries to a number of US personnel. Fortunately, no British troops were harmed in the incidents.
Brigadier Guy Foden explained that both the base in Erbil and another facility in Baghdad were targeted multiple times on Wednesday night. British forces are currently assisting with the protection of the Erbil base. These attacks have been part of an ongoing retaliation against US military sites in Iraq following previous US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Though the Erbil base is primarily controlled by the US, it frequently hosts British troops alongside other coalition members.
British forces played a crucial role by shooting down two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) departing from the camp; however, a number of other drones did impact the compound. Healey noted that since Iran began striking indiscriminately across the Middle East, British personnel have been actively involved in defensive operations at the Erbil base. “We’ve had a team at the base in Erbil that’s been pulling down drones, protecting themselves but also protecting the base and other service people that they serve with there,” he stated.
During a visit to the UK’s military headquarters in Northwood, London, Healey received an update on the Middle East situation. Lieutenant General Nick Perry, the UK’s chief of joint operations, indicated there were clear indications of cooperation between Russia and Iran concerning the use of attack drones. Healey later remarked, “No one will be surprised to believe that Putin’s hidden hand is behind some of the Iranian tactics,” drawing parallels between Iranian drone attacks and Russian methods deployed in Ukraine. Additionally, the defence secretary highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin benefits financially from the ongoing conflict due to increased oil prices, which provide renewed funding for Russia’s military efforts.
Beyond Iraq, British air combat patrols were flown over Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, alongside several sorties over Qatar, as part of ongoing regional security efforts. RAF jets also maintained defensive operations in Cyprus with European allies. Over the past 13 days, the UK amassed more than 300 pilot flying hours in these areas. Meanwhile, the warship HMS Dragon, which departed the UK earlier in the week, was en route to the Mediterranean as of midday Thursday.
The potential mining of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran was another topic of discussion during Healey’s briefing. Although the Royal Navy’s only mine-hunting ship in the Gulf, HMS Middleton, had returned to Portsmouth for scheduled maintenance, the UK still maintains autonomous de-mining assets in the region to monitor and respond to such threats
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