LONDON: Britain plans to send additional air defence equipment and troops to help its allies in the Middle East as Iranian attacks continue, defence minister John Healey said on Tuesday as he visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain.
Healey held talks with allies where they discussed the Strait of Hormuz and further UK-Gulf co-operation on regional security, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said.
UK will deploy Sky Sabre, a ground-based air defence system used by the British Army, in Saudi Arabia, statement said.
The deployment of British Typhoon fighter jets in Qatar, where the UK operates a joint squadron with Qatar, will be extended, Healey announced.
Britain’s Lightweight Multirole Launcher is now in Bahrain, where it is being integrated into that country’s defence systems, the MoD added.
Healey told reporters that British troops will help install, train, and operate the new air defence systems, with nearly 1,000 soldiers expected to be deployed across the Middle East to help “defend the skies and reinforce air defences”.
“I pay tribute to the heroic efforts of our partners across the Gulf in protecting their nations. We will stand by our long-term partners in the Middle East and continue to push for a swift resolution to this conflict,” Healey said in the MoD’s written statement.
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”.
Healey told reporters 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.”
Meanwhile, Italy recently refused authorisation for some US aircraft headed to the Middle East on a combat mission to land at its Sigonella base, a defence ministry source and Italian media said on Tuesday.
Under the terms of agreements with the United States, some Italian bases can be used by US military aircraft, but only for logistical purposes.
