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RAF jets deployed to intercept drones over Bahrain
The UK has assigned two RAF Typhoon fighter jets to Bahrain to help counter incoming drones as tensions escalate in the Middle East, according to defence sources.
Four Typhoons were initially sent to Qatar, with half now dedicated to supporting Bahrain's air defences. The move comes during the second week of hostilities between the US-Israel coalition and Iran.
Iranian strikes target Bahrain's infrastructure
Bahraini officials reported intercepting 190 drones and 114 missiles since the conflict began. An Iranian drone struck fuel storage tanks at Bahrain's airport earlier this week, causing significant damage.
The attack on 9 March resulted in the highest casualty toll for any Gulf nation from a single strike, with 23 civilians injured, including four children.
UK expands defensive operations across the region
Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that RAF pilots have logged over 300 flying hours in the past 13 days. Operations include air combat patrols over Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar, as well as sorties to defend Cyprus after an Iranian drone damaged RAF Akrotiri's runway on 1 March.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Friday that Typhoon missions had been extended to Bahrain, reinforcing existing protective measures in the region.
HMS Dragon dispatched to eastern Mediterranean
The British warship HMS Dragon left the UK on Tuesday to safeguard the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus. Its deployment follows criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who argued the vessel should have been sent sooner.
Badenoch accused the government of "dithering," noting that European allies like Greece and France had already positioned ships near Cyprus. Sir Keir rejected the claim, stating that UK assets had been pre-deployed weeks before the conflict intensified.
UK rules out offensive strikes but permits US base use
While the UK has allowed the US to use its bases for defensive operations against Iranian missile sites, the RAF has not participated in direct strikes. Sir Keir reiterated that the UK would not engage in offensive actions, emphasizing opposition to "regime change from the skies."
Badenoch, however, urged the government to authorize RAF strikes on Iranian missile sites, arguing that the UK is already involved in the conflict "whether we like it or not."
Travel disruptions and evacuations continue
The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted travel across the Middle East. The UK government has organized repatriation flights, with Prime Minister Starmer confirming that 67,000 British nationals have returned home in recent days.
"Supplies have been stabilized, but the threat remains acute," a Bahraini defence spokesperson said.
Bahraini Ministry of Defence
