British troops in Iraq shoot down Iranian drones after base attacked
On Thursday, it emerged that British troops in Iraq shot down two Iranian drones after their bases were attacked, after defense secretary John Healey refused to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Bases in Erbil and Baghdad, where British and allied troops are based, were hit “several times” on Wednesday night, according to Brigadier General Guy Foden; this was the third attack on British forces since the start of the conflict.
The incident follows a drone attack on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and the landing of a missile 400 meters away from British personnel in Iraq.
No British soldiers were harmed in the latest incident, but US personnel suffered some light casualties.
Mr Healey said Iran’s attacks bore striking similarities to Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, adding that Vladimir Putin’s “hidden hand” may be behind some of Tehran’s tactics in the Middle East conflict.
Brigadier Foden told Mr Healey there were “definite” indications of a link between Russia and Iran, including Iran’s use of drones “as far as he has learned from the Russians”.
Asked for examples of such connections, Mr Healey said: “We are currently involved in analyzing the drone that crashed into the hangar at Akrotiri for any evidence of Russian or any other foreign components and parts.
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“We will update you when it becomes available and publish the findings from that as appropriate, but I think no one will be surprised to believe that Putin’s hidden hand is behind some of Iran’s tactics, potentially some of Iran’s capabilities, especially since Putin is a world leader who is currently benefiting from very high oil prices.
“It helps provide him with new funding for his brutal war in Ukraine.”
Mr Healey also refused to rule out defending the Strait of Hormuz after Iran vowed to continue blocking the vital shipping channel; This move led to the price of heating oil doubling last week and increased fears about energy prices.
He said: “The two things that I think are most important are, firstly, realizing the huge impact this will potentially have on oil prices and the cost of living for people around the world, there is an international imperative and incentive to try and see that this is resolved. Major steps such as the record release of reserve oil are helping, but they are not solving the problem.”
“Secondly, it reflects the realism that it is extremely difficult to clear any aquatic mines in conflict conditions, and therefore, in part, the fact that I already have some mine-clearing autonomous systems in the region since before the conflict, in addition, of course, to the additional options that I have discussed with our planners as defense minister.”
Britain currently has no warships in or near the area, but HMS Dragon This week it departed for Cyprus, where it will maintain Britain’s air bases.
Two tankers in the Gulf were set on fire overnight after being hit by Iranian boats suspected of carrying explosives, while an unknown projectile hit a container ship near the UAE.
Israel continued to escalate its attacks on Beirut and, with great tension, threatened to seize Lebanese territory.
Iran issued a statement claiming to come from religious leader Mojtaba Khamenei, threatening to launch new attacks on US bases in the region and “avenge the blood of the martyrs”.
Meanwhile, President Trump responded to the latest threats from Tehran by saying he would “stop an evil empire” and repeated his warning that Iran will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
