Extra British troops and more UK air defence systems will be deployed to the Middle East for defensive action against Iranian attacks, bringing the total number of UK personnel involved in the defence of the Gulf and Cyprus to around 1,000.
On a trip to the Gulf nations, Defence Secretary John Healey said extra air defence teams and systems would be deployed to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait while the use of Typhoon jets in Qatar will be extended.
“My message to Gulf partners is: Britain’s best will help you defend your skies,” he said.
The UK’s position on the war in the Middle East is to participate in “defensive action” but US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised that stance.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday the UK is “not going to get dragged into this war” but would continue to defend its interests and allies in the region.
The defence secretary has been visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain as the government announced the deployment of further systems, and associated teams, for the nations and for Kuwait.
Speaking to reporters from Qatar, Healey said the Gulf nations had praised the contributions of UK forces describing them as “a cornerstone” to their defence.
He added that Iran had been “expanding” its attacks in the region and that he expected the war to continue “for some weeks”.
Qatar warned earlier on Tuesday that attacks on its civilian infrastructure are a threat to the entire region.
The comments came after a power and desalination plant in Kuwait was damaged in an attack earlier this week.
Visiting the UK Armed Forces at Dukhan air base, Healey said the government has extended the deployment of UK Typhoon jets to Qatar.
At the start of the month, Starmer said four additional jets would be sent to Qatar following the deployment of the Royal Air Force’s joint UK-Qatari Typhoon squadron in January.
Separately, the defence secretary told Saudi Arabia’s defence minister that the UK will deploy air defence missile system Sky Sabre there this week along with teams to operate the system.
The system, composed of radars, control node, and missile launchers, can intercept munitions and aircraft and will integrate within the wider air defences in the region, the ministry said.
The UK’s Lightweight Multirole Missile launcher, a short-range air defence system, has already been deployed to Bahrain along with UK experts who will work to integrate the system into Bahraini defences – and ground-based air defence missile system Rapid Sentry has arrived in Kuwait.
Speaking on Monday, Starmer reiterated that UK troops will not be deployed on the ground in Iran.
“This is not our war and we’re not going to get drawn into it,” he said while responding to a question from reporters.
The UK previously gave permission for the US to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites after Starmer denied a request for the use of UK bases for the initial US-Israeli strikes against Iran in February.
President Trump has been critical of the UK’s involvement in the war, as well as that of other Nato allies.
On Tuesday, the president specifically referenced the UK as he said countries that did not participate in the initial strikes on Iran should “get your own oil” from the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, the US president said: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself.”
Healey told reporters on Tuesday that allies were looking at a range of options to keep the key shipping lane open. He said it would require an international response – which included the US.
He also said that military planners have been deployed to US military headquarters, and that a British Navy ship will also be used to facilitate autonomous drones that could clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz if and when that was necessary.
But he batted away the Trump administration’s irritation with the UK not getting involved in the war.
“We’re two nations whose militaries are bound closely together, that work closely together, whose intelligence services share uniquely the recognition of the threats around the world and the action that free nations must take and take together.”
A Conservative Party spokesperson criticised Starmer’s response to the conflict as being “confused and chaotic”.
“He has spent the last fortnight telling us he won’t get involved in this war and now he’s sending British troops to the Middle East,” a statement said.
“Only Kemi Badenoch has been clear that we need to act in Britain’s national interest, while Starmer has only thought of what his backbenchers want and his own political interest because he has no backbone.”
The Liberal Democrats have called for the government to publish legal advice to back up the deployment of more British troops to the Middle East.
The party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Calum Miller, said: “It’s absolutely right that the government protects our troops, citizens and allies in the region who have come under unprovoked attack from Iran.
“But the prime minister must also resist any attempts by Trump to drag Britain down the path to war.”
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green party of England and Wales, posted an online video in which he called for Britain to “stop the US using UK airspace” to launch bombing raids on Iran.
Polanski said: “Every day, US bombers are flying from UK bases, flying thousands of miles around the world to drop bombs on targets. We’ll never know what those targets are…”
He added: “We are an accomplice in this conflict and and we don’t need to be.”
Source: BBC
