Defence Secretary John Healey has confirmed that recent Iranian missile and drone strikes came alarmingly close to British troops stationed in Bahrain, landing within “a few hundred yards” of their location.
This revelation comes as tensions continue to escalate in the region, particularly involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Approximately 300 UK personnel are currently deployed in Bahrain, and Healey emphasised that the latest wave of Iranian retaliatory strikes posed a significant risk to their safety.
The missiles and drones launched by Iran not only targeted nearby areas but also showcased the growing threat to foreign military personnel in the region.
In a further escalation, reports emerged indicating that two missiles were fired towards Cyprus, where a substantial contingent of UK forces is stationed.
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The UK operates two Sovereign Base Areas on the island—RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Together, these bases cover about 3% of Cyprus’s land area and are pivotal to British military operations in the eastern Mediterranean, serving as key strategic assets for humanitarian aid and crisis response missions.
The recent influx of Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Middle East follows coordinated US-Israeli military operations targeting sites within Iran, aimed at reducing Tehran’s military capabilities. The near miss of British forces underscores the conflict’s expanding geographic scope. She highlights the increasing risks that Western military personnel face while operating in such a volatile environment.
Thus far, the UK government has not reported any casualties among its troops, and officials have reassured the public that robust defensive measures are actively in place to ensure the safety of British forces and facilities in both Bahrain and Cyprus.
The Defence Secretary told GB News: “We don’t believe they were targeted at Cyprus, but nevertheless it’s an example of how there is a very real and rising threat from a regime that is lashing out widely across the region.
“It can end its weapons programmes and return to the sort of negotiations that long-term will secure the stability in the region.”
We share the primary aim that the US have and allies in the region have, that Iran should never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” he added.
Healy continued: “We were putting extra defences into the region several weeks ago.”
We’ve been leading the way with UK planes in the air that have been protecting other regional allies.
“I, for one, do not mourn the end of the Ayatollah,” he told GB News.
He led a regime that is a source of evil, murdering its own citizens, sponsoring and exporting terror, including to Britain over the years, and now is responsible for an escalating level of risk because of its widespread, increasingly uncontrolled and less indiscriminate attacks on allies in the region that put UK people at risk as well.
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