British troops in Iraq attacked 'by drone barrage' as defence secretary blames Putin's 'hidden hands'
There have been "no British casualties", while the US had sustained "some" injuries overnight
A base that houses the British SAS in Iraq was the target of a drone attack last night, as top generals confirm Vladimir Putin’s "hidden hands" may be behind some of Iran’s tactics in the Middle East.
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The UK’s chief of joint operations, Lieutenant General Nick Perry, told the defence secretary there were “definitively” signs of a link between Russia and Iran, including Iran’s use of drones "as learned from the Russians".
Meanwhile, Brigadier Guy Foden, a commander at Britain’s Permanent Joint Headquarters, said troops in northern Iraq shot down two Iranian drones overnight but several more got through.
The drones struck a joint Special Forces base in the Kurdistan regional capital Erbil as well as Baghdad, The Sun reported.
Brig Foden said: “We have personnel in Erbil who are currently helping with the defence of that base.
“Last night they shot down two UAVs coming at the camp, but a number of UAVs did impact on the camp.”
There have been “no British casualties”, while the US had sustained “some” casualties overnight but “nothing too serious”, Lieutenant General Perry said.
On Russian involvement, Mr Healey said: “At the moment, we’re taking part in analysing the drone that struck the hangar at Akrotiri for any evidence of Russian or any other foreign components and parts.
“We will update you and appropriately publish any findings from that when we’ve got them, but I think no one will be surprised to believe that Putin’s hidden hand is behind some of the Iranian tactics, potentially some of their capabilities as well, not least because one world leader that is benefiting from the sky high oil prices at the moment 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, along with a “number of sorties” over Qatar.
RAF jets have also continued to fly in defence of Cyprus with European allies in the region.
Asked whether the UK would be prepared to participate 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 commercial ships being attacked is becoming established.
“The two things that I think are most significant are, first, that recognising the huge impact that this potentially has on oil prices and on people’s cost of living around the world.
“There is an international imperative and incentive to try and see this resolved.
“Big steps like the record release of reserve oil helps, but doesn’t solve the problem.
“And the second is a realism that in a in circumstances of conflict, demining any waters is extremely difficult and therefore, in addition to the additional options that, of course, as Defence Secretary, I’m discussing with our planners, in part, reflecting the fact that I’ve already got some demining autonomous systems in place in the region since before the conflict.
“In the end, this is likely to be most quickly sorted and the Straits are most likely to be quickly opened by a de-escalation of the conflict, by a greater stabilisation and confidence in the region and by all those nations that want to see the statues reopened being willing to work together.”
During the visit, Mr Healey addressed service personnel and thanked them for their work.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP: “From day one of this conflict, from the point at which Iran started hitting back indiscriminately and widespread, we've had a team at the base in Erbil that's been putting down drones, protecting themselves, but also protecting the base and other service people that may serve in Iran.
“It's part of a big operation, stepping up our defences in the region from January onwards and responding then, but we saw the nature of the Iranian retaliation, widespread, civilian, military, against many countries that just had no involvement in the conflict.
“And it's my job to make sure that we can protect our British personnel, our British citizens in the region, but also we work, as we have done, to help defend our allies there too.”
On Russia, he said: “At the moment, we're taking apart and analysing the drone that struck the hangar at Akrotiri for any evidence of Russian or any other foreign components and parts.
“We will update you and appropriately publish any findings from that when we've got them, but I think no one will be surprised to believe that Putin's hidden hand is behind some of the Iranian tactics, potentially some of their capabilities as well.
“And the fastest route to do that would be an end to the conflict and a rebuilding of the stability and confidence in the region and we stand ready to play in that alongside Allies.”
“One world leader that is benefiting from the sky high oil prices at the moment is Putin, because it helps him with a fresh supply of funds for his brutal war in Ukraine.”