Cyprus under attack as Iran fires two missiles at British tourist hotspot | UK | News
British Defense Secretary John Healey confirmed that Iran fired a missile towards Cyprus, where British troops are stationed. The Defense Secretary has not yet confirmed whether the missiles were deliberately targeted at UK facilities on the island.
Speaking about the attack, My Healey said: “We are pretty sure they were not targeting our bases,” but added that it showed how indiscriminate Iran’s retaliation was. He added that around 300 British military personnel were deployed near targeted areas in Bahrain. The defense secretary appeared on the morning broadcast a day after Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK was deploying “planes in the sky” over the Middle East as part of defense operations. His comment came a day after several missiles hit Iran and some other parts of the country in a joint operation led by Israel and the United States.
It was confirmed Sunday morning that Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in the attack. Iranian authorities have been subjected to drone attacks in the last few hours in retaliation against several Middle Eastern countries, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The Defense Minister added: “Some were within a few hundred meters of the missile strikes.” Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Mr Healey added: “Very few people will mourn the death of the Ayatollah.” But he said he was more concerned about the impact attacks on Iran would have on the broader region.
“Make no mistake that this is a regime that harasses other countries and will never be allowed to have nuclear weapons,” he said. He told Sky News: “Nobody who sees how Iran threatens us, sponsors terrorism around the world, is a source of instability in the region, develops a nuclear weapons program, can doubt the character of this regime and the threat it poses.”
Asked whether the US action was lawful, Mr Healey said: “This is for the US to go out and make a statement. As the UK defense secretary, that is not for me, I am here to speak on behalf of the UK. I can speak on behalf of the very active involvement that we have in coordinated defense across the region.” He emphasized that “everything Britain does complies with international law.”
Describing British operations, Healey said: “When our British planes fly from Qatar, they provide protection against all kinds of missiles or drones aimed at Qatar. When they fly from Cyprus, they do the same for Cyprus.
“But of course when our aircraft are in the air and they see missiles or drones aimed at other countries, they will shoot them down. So when I talk about the UK playing a role in strengthening regional stability in the context of coordinated regional defense operations, this is what I mean.”
British aircraft are “in the skies” over the Middle East as part of a defense operation “to protect our people, our interests and our allies”, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday. In his speech, he said he wanted to see “peace and security” and “protection of civil life” in the Middle East. He added: “Iran can put an end to this now. It must refrain from further attacks, abandon its weapons program, and end the horrific violence and oppression of the Iranian people, who deserve the right to self-determination.”
However, he confirmed that Britain was not involved in the US-Israeli attacks.
It was also revealed today that British troops came within 200 meters of an Iranian drone and missile attack on an American base in Bahrain.
Around 300 British personnel are believed to be serving at the base. The headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet was targeted on Saturday morning as Iran launched retaliatory strikes.
British forces deployed to Iraq as part of the mission to fight ISIS also came within 400 meters of Iran’s missile attack.
Express is aware that all UK personnel in the region are safe and responsible and that the highest force protection measures are in place.
And today, tensions rose as Iran declared jihad over the killing of its leader.
Speaking on state television, President Massoud Pezeshkian said: “The assassination of the highest political authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the world-leading leader of Shiism is perceived all over the world as an open declaration of war against Muslims, especially Shiites. The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and planners of this historical crime.”
