BRITAIN will send more troops and air defence systems to the gulf to defend against Iranian attacks, John Healey announced today.
The Defence Secretary confirmed total UK personnel supporting the Middle East and Cyprus will rise to around 1,000.
Mr Healey said soldiers will be deployed to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.
The use of Typhoon jets in Qatar will also be extended.
On a visit to the region, the Defence Secretary said: “My message to Gulf partners is: Britain’s best will help you defend your skies.”
Mr Healey added that Iran had been “expanding” assaults in the region and he expects the war to rage on “for some weeks”.
It comes after a desalination and power plan in Kuwait was damaged in an attack earlier in the week.
Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly pressed that UK troops won’t be deployed on the ground in Iran – but Britain will support its gulf allies with defensive capabilities.
RAF Regiment gunners, operating in a high-threat area, successfully downed multiple Iranian drones overnight on Monday.
Meanwhile, UK Typhoons and F-35 jets, together with Wildcat helicopters, have continued defensive missions including over Cyprus, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE.
