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A British F-35B fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone over Jordan’s airspace – the primary time the jet has destroyed a goal on operations.
British jets are protecting UK personnel and allied nations across the Middle East, shooting down drones fired from Iran into various Gulf Countries.
The Ministry of Defence said the jets were supported by RAF Typhoons and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft.
This followed earlier strikes on drones by a British counter-drone unit in Iraqi airspace, in addition to by an RAF Typhoon, which shot down an Iranian drone directed at Qatar on Monday.
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed the UK could be sending HMS Dragon, one in every of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 air defence destroyers, after RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus was hit by a drone.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: ‘We’re moving quickly to further reinforce our defensive presence within the Eastern Mediterranean.’
‘I’m deeply happy with the professionalism and bravado of our Armed Forces personnel who’ve in recent days successfully taken motion across the region to guard our allies and defend British interests.’
Drones have been hitting targets across the Middle East, including one which smashed into the parking zone of the US Consulate in Dubai.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: ‘All personnel are accounted for. As you’re aware, we began drawing down personnel from our diplomatic facilities prematurely of this.
‘But our embassies and our diplomatic facilities are under direct attack from a terroristic regime.’
On Sunday, Starmer granted permission for the US to make use of British bases for ‘defensive’ strikes on Iran’s missile sites, a day after the launch of joint American-Israeli military motion against Tehran over the weekend.
Hours afterwards, a drone hit RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign air base on the island, though the Prime Minister said it was launched before his announcement and was not in retaliation.
Earlier today, a British counter-drone team also intercepted uncrewed aerial vehicles in Iraqi airspace that were heading towards Coalition forces, protecting UK personnel operating in the realm.
The escalation within the conflict within the region continues on its third day after joint US–Israel airstrikes over the weekend, and Iran’s retaliation targeting its neighbours and American interests.
US allies are struggling to avoid being drawn into the conflict, which has put global security, trade and travel in danger.
The Prime Minister said yesterday that the UK wouldn’t join US-Israeli strikes against Iran, citing the ‘mistakes of Iraq.’
He said: ‘All of us remember the mistakes of Iraq, and now we have learned those lessons. Any UK actions must all the time have a lawful basis, and a viable thought-through plan.
‘That’s the principle that I applied to the choices that I remodeled the weekend.’
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