An SAS base was hit by a drone strike, injuring US soldiers, because it was feared Vladimir Putin might be giving Iranian’s a helping hand with their tactics.
A swarm of Iranian drones struck a joint Special Forces base within the Kurdistan regional capital Erbil on Wednesday night.
Brigadier Guy Foden, a commander at Britain’s Everlasting Joint Headquarters, revealed: ‘We’ve personnel in Erbil who’re currently helping with the defence of that base.
‘Last night they shot down two UAVs coming on the camp, but plenty of UAVs did impact on the camp.’
American soldiers were injured within the attack however the British suffered no casualties, in accordance with The Sun.
Lt Gen Nick Perry, the commander of UK global operations, confirmed the US casualties weren’t life-threatening.
He told Defence Secretary John Healey at a briefing: ‘All our people remain secure, touch wood, however the Americans took some casualties last night, but nothing too serious.’
It comes because the defence secretary said Vladimir Putin’s ‘hidden hands’ could also be behind a few of Iran’s tactics within the Middle East.
John Healey visited the Northwood military headquarters in Hertfordshire on Thursday, where he was briefed on the most recent updates on British operations within the region.
The UK’s chief of joint operations, Lieutenant General Nick Perry, told the defence secretary there have been ‘definitively’ signs of a link between Russia and Iran, including Iran’s use of drones ‘as learned from the Russians’.
Asked later by reporters for examples of such links, Mr Healey said: ‘In the intervening time, we’re participating in analysing the drone that struck the hangar at Akrotiri for any evidence of Russian or some other foreign components and parts.
‘We are going to update you and appropriately publish any findings from that after we’ve got them, but I feel nobody can be surprised to consider that Putin’s hidden hand is behind a number of the Iranian tactics, potentially a few of their capabilities as well, not least because one world leader that’s benefiting from the sky high oil prices in the mean time is Putin.
‘It helps him with a fresh supply of funds for his brutal war in Ukraine.’
Brigadier Guy Foden said on Wednesday night that the UK had flown air combat patrols over Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, together with a ‘variety of sorties’ over Qatar.
RAF jets have also continued to fly in defence of Cyprus with European allies within the region.
Following the US-Israeli strikes, Iran has warned vessels to not go through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the worth of heating oil doubling previously week.
Asked whether the UK can be prepared to take part in a patrol of the straits, Mr Healey said: ‘So firstly, these are early days.
‘The reports of Iran mining the Straits is becoming established. The evidence and number of economic ships being attacked is becoming established.
‘The 2 things that I feel are most vital are, first, that recognising the massive impact that this potentially has on oil prices and on people’s cost of living around the globe.
‘There’s a global imperative and incentive to attempt to see this resolved.
‘Big steps just like the record release of reserve oil helps, but doesn’t solve the issue.’
It got here after Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei released his first message of vengeance for his war-ravaged homeland after his father was killed in US-Israeli strikes.
Iran’s recent Supreme Leader said in a written statement: ‘I assure everyone that we’ll not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs.
‘The revenge we’re considering shouldn’t be only related to the martyrdom of the nice leader of the revolution; somewhat, every member of the nation who’s martyred by the enemy is an independent subject for the revenge case.’
The message was released by Iranian state television, despite claims he’s lost one leg and suffered serious abdominal injuries in a US-Israeli air strike that worn out his family. Some reports say he’s in a coma.
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