Two drones en route to Jordan and Bahrain were shot down by RAF Typhoon jets during a defensive sortie in the Gulf, the Defense Secretary said.
John Healy Updating MPs with new details on UK operations in the Middle East, deployments to the region and Evacuation of British nationals.
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He said on Monday: “The UK is now conducting defensive sorties in support of the UAE. The Typhoons successfully took out two drones, one over Jordan, the second heading for Bahrain.
“The third Wildcat (helicopter) has now arrived CyprusAnd we now have additional RAF operations specialists deployed in more than five countries in the region, helping to coordinate regional military and civilian airspace.”
The Typhoon jet is being prepared for defensive operations across the Middle East. Image: MoD
A Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter is on its initial test flight at a British base in Cyprus. Image: MoD
The destroyer HMS Dragon will sail to the eastern Mediterranean “in the next couple of days”, where it will join US air defense ships, he said.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) posted a short video on X showing the drone being blasted by RAF jets.
HMS Dragon due to leave Portsmouth in the coming days. Image: MoD
Loading stores on HMS Dragon on Monday. Image: MoD
The Defense Secretary confirmed that 37,000 British nationals had been evacuated since the war began. Iran And three chartered flights to the UK have now left Oman’s capital Muscat, with “more to come this week”.
Mr Healy said the hit was “fragments” of an Iranian drone RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus “Our experts at DSTL (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) are analyzing for foreign military hardware” last week.
The first US bomber aircraft landed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday, after the UK gave the US permission to use British bases for defense operations, a cabinet minister said.
Earlier in the Commons, the chancellor admitted that the conflict in the Middle East was likely to be tabled.Pressure on inflation“, the UK is ready to support the release of oil reserves as supply problems persist.
Rachel Reeves said additional funding had been approved for the MoD to deploy “extra capabilities” in the area.
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Meanwhile, Downing Street has distanced itself from suggestions that the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is preparing to deploy to the Mediterranean.
No decision has been made about the deployments, and Number 10 said today that the Prince of Wales was always on high alert.
The shadow defense secretary responded to Mr Healy’s remarks in the Commons by criticizing the government. Delay in sending HMS Dragon to the Mediterranean.
James Cartlidge said he had “completely undermined Britain’s international standing”, while Mr Healy defended the Government’s response and called Mr Cartlidge an “armchair general”.
