British forces defend Israel and other allies from Iranian attacks
Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed UK defensive actions at Cabinet meeting
British forces have defended allies including Israel from Iranian attacks on Monday night, it has been confirmed.
At Tuesday’s weekly meeting of the Cabinet, Defence Secretary John Healey told colleagues British forces had been involved in a range of defensive activity, while a counter-drone team had brought down 13 drones.
Healey said UK pilots had now flown nearly 900 hours defending UK interests and its allies over the past four weeks.
A readout from the Cabinet meeting confirmed Healey told Keir Starmer’s senior team that “the UK had defended allies in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan from attacks overnight.”
As many as 14 drones were reportedly shot out of the night sky by troops from the elite Royal Air Force Regiment, who are specialists in protecting bases using ground-to-air rocket systems.
During the meeting Keir Starmer warned his Cabinet colleagues that “the risk of escalation was higher the longer the conflict went on” in the Middle East.
A Downing Street readout of the meeting between senior ministers on Tuesday morning said: “The Prime Minister re-emphasised the defensive, limited and specific basis under which the UK had allowed the US to use its bases to take out Iran’s capability to strike our interests, and those of our allies.
“The Prime Minister said the UK was prepared to defend our interests and those of our allies, but not to be dragged into the war.”
It added: “The Chancellor said the range of outcomes from the conflict for the UK was uncertain, but that the decisions taken at the Budget and Spring Statement meant that the country was in a better position as a result.”
The RAF Regiment practised intercepting enemy drones during an exercise in Wales before deploying to northern Iraq.
In a post on Facebook, the RAF Regiment said its specialists were playing a vital role in defensive operations in the Middle East.
It said: “They are actively detecting, tracking and neutralising airborne threats, working closely with coalition partners to ensure the safety of personnel and the continuity of operations.
‘Through precision, professionalism and coordination, they remain committed to protecting people and critical infrastructure in a complex and evolving environment.”
Officials have confirmed that while the UK and France are leading international efforts to form a naval coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz, no Royal Navy warships will deploy to the crucial waterway before the warring parties have agreed on a ceasefire.
Shipping through the strait has already slowed to a standstill, with around 150 freight ships, including oil tankers, reported to be stalled.
The UK has not participated in offensive strikes against Iran. In addition to ground-based counter-drone operations, UK aircraft have been deployed in a defensive role to intercept missiles and projectiles in Qatar, Jordan, Iraq and Cyprus.
The UK’s RAF base in Cyprus was itself struck by an Iranian drone earlier in the conflict.
The E3 — the UK, France and Germany — have also resolved to back, if needed, “proportionate military defensive measures” against Iranian drones and ballistic missiles, signalling the potential for broader European involvement if attacks continue.
The UK plans to procure additional Martlet multirole missiles to further bolster British forces in the region against the ongoing Iranian drone threat.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
