Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of United Kingdom, announced on Monday that Britain is sending short-range air defence systems to the Gulf to help protect against Iranian missile attacks.
“We’re deploying short-range air defence systems to Bahrain at speed,” Starmer told a parliamentary committee, adding that similar deployments are planned for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He said the UK is working with industry partners to distribute air defence missiles to Gulf allies, which have faced waves of Iranian strikes in retaliation for US-Israeli operations, and has stationed airspace specialists in the region.
John Healey told parliament that Britain will deploy its Rapid Sentry anti-drone system to Kuwait, describing it as a “battle-tested ground-based air defence missile system” already proven effective against drones in the region.
A British warship, HMS Dragon, has also arrived in the eastern Mediterranean to bolster the defence of Cyprus, following criticism of a slow UK response to a drone attack on Britain’s Akrotiri base in southern Cyprus after US-Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.
Britain now has more military jets deployed in the region than at any time in the past 15 years and has increased air defence personnel in Cyprus by 500, Healey said. UK pilots have logged nearly 900 flight hours defending Cyprus Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates amid ongoing Iranian drone attacks.
The UK is also allowing Washington to use its bases at Diego Garcia and Fairford for US bombing missions targeting Iranian missile sites used against ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Healey said Britain is committed to securing the strategic waterway, ensuring safe passage for commercial shipping.
Iran launched two missiles toward Diego Garcia on Friday, but neither reached their target, and “normal operations continue,” Healey said. He condemned the attacks, calling for de-escalation, while reassuring the public that the UK is not currently being targeted and has the resources and alliances to maintain national security.
