UK base in Iraq comes under Iranian drone swarm attack: Defence sec says ‘Putin’s hidden hands’ are helping Tehran after US troops were injured in onslaught

A British base was attacked by a swarm of Iranian drones last night, injuring Coalition Forces as RAF pilots flew sorties in the war zone.

While the camp in Northern Iraq was set on fire by drones, other bullets were also stopped.

This morning the UK Defense Secretary called for an end to the Middle East conflict as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and more ships come under attack.

John Healey said the only winner from the current situation is Russia’s Vladimir Putin, whose war chest is expanding due to the rise in oil prices. He added that Mr. Putin’s “hidden hands” may be behind some of Iran’s tactics in the conflict.

Mr Healey’s plea for de-escalation came as a British and Coalition Force base in northern Iraq came under attack by a swarm of Iranian drones.

There were no casualties in the UK as anti-drone experts deployed from Britain intercepted warheads from Iran. However, US personnel were injured, although none seriously.

Mr Healey also hinted that efforts were continuing behind the scenes to find a negotiated solution to the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people and threatens a humanitarian catastrophe.

While the Royal Navy could contribute to patrols protecting cargo ships and oil tankers passing through the Bosphorus, Mr Healey said these were ‘early hours’ and no ships were prepared for such a mission.

Defense Secretary John Healey received the briefing as he met with military personnel during his visit to Joint Permanent Headquarters at RAF Northwood in Hertfordshire today.

Ending the conflict is the best way to reopen the vital waterway, according to the Defense Minister.

Mr Healey also urged the public not to draw conclusions about US intentions from offensive statements and memes produced for social media.

His US counterpart, flamboyant Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, led the American propaganda offensive.

Hegseth’s press conferences came under criticism for boasting about killing, ignoring the Rules of Engagement, and concerns about International Law.

US defense officials have also created video clips and memes that blend reality and fantasy by combining combat footage with scenes from Hollywood war movies.

Speaking during a visit to the military planning center at RAF Northwood in Hertfordshire, England, Mr Healey said: ‘Every conflict must come to an end and come to a conclusion. Every politician I met understood that they could not fully solve problems with military action. The struggle must end.

‘Don’t take the USA’s numbers on Twitter… They do a lot. No one wants a situation where the Strait of Hormuz is closed and international oil prices are above $100 per barrel. There is no one but Putin. Everyone else is worried about this.

‘Putin more likely to welcome’ [the situation] more than anyone else. The purpose of governments like ours is to ensure that we are responsive. We must also be wary of other threats we face. ‘The most important thing for me is the responsibility to continue supporting Ukraine.’

This morning Mr Healey was briefed by British commanders at Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), Lieutenant General Nick Perry and Brigadier Guy Foden.

It was said that the US suffered more casualties due to Iranian attacks in Northern Iraq and RAF pilots flew sorties over the UAE, Jordan and Qatar throughout the night.

Lieutenant Perry told Mr Healey there were “definite” indications of a link between Russia and Iran, including Iran’s use of drones, “as learned from the Russians”.

Defense Secretary John Healey today received an operational update on the situation in the Middle East at Joint Permanent Headquarters RAF Northwood in Hertfordshire.

Asked later by journalists about 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.

‘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 its capabilities; especially since one world leader currently benefiting from sky-high oil prices is Putin.

‘It helps provide him with new funds for his brutal war in Ukraine.’

Mr Healey asked commanders if there was evidence that Russia was increasing its support for Iran and was told how Tehran was imitating Moscow’s attacks in Ukraine.

Tehran has adopted the same tactic, allowing its drones to approach their targets at low altitude to avoid detection.

Iran had previously supplied tens of thousands of Martyr one-way attack aircraft to Russia. Russian technology is used in navigation systems.

As Mr Healey told reporters: ‘We saw this axis of aggression with Russia launching 60,000 drones into Ukraine. We saw the same tactic in Iran. These countries like to threaten their neighbors. It will not surprise anyone to hear that Putin’s hidden hand is behind these tactics.’

The Defense Minister accused Iran of causing ‘major tension’ by mining the waterway, which is vital for global trade. Britain has already deployed anti-mine drones to the region and is preparing to send more.

Mr Healey defended the withdrawal of HMS Middleton from the area for what he called ‘routine maintenance’, arguing that the ship would be redundant if it remained in the war zone.

He said: ‘I have seen reports of ships being attacked and Iran mining the Bosphorus. We have some autonomous mine hunting systems and are discussing sending more.

‘Every ship, like a car, needs maintenance. IT [HMS Middleton] for this he was brought back to England. ‘It is very difficult to clear these waters of mines before the conflict subsides.’

On the UK’s contribution to reopening the Bosphorus, Mr Healey said: ‘We recognize the huge importance of oil prices on the cost of living. There is an international obligation and incentive to resolve this situation.

‘The situation in the Strait of Hormuz will most likely be resolved quickly as hostilities subside.’

The Kremlin was struggling to raise revenue to support its illegal occupation of Ukraine before a conflict-induced surge in oil prices and a U.S. waiver of sanctions on countries buying Russian natural resources.

Mr Healey said the UK would continue to prioritize supporting Ukraine and the Russian threat to the High North.

HMS Dragon, which is heading to the Middle East, was previously reserved for operations in this region.