LONDON: British Defense Secretary John Healey confirmed that British pilots have logged more than 1,200 flying hours on defensive missions across the Middle East since the conflict with Iran began on Feb. 28, and said more than 80 interception operations have been carried out in cooperation with Royal Air Force Regiment forces.
Speaking after his visit to Saudi Arabia this week, Healey said his country has 1,000 troops deployed in the Middle East, with an additional 500 personnel in Cyprus, and noted that the UK is “continuing to work closely with regional partners to identify ways to provide additional support.”
The minister praised the British-Saudi defense partnership, which he said is “based on shared security interests and industrial cooperation” and has “evolved into a modern partnership responding to contemporary challenges.”
British Defense Secretary John Healey. (Supplied)
Healey did not rule out the possibility of “hidden Russian hands” behind some of Iran’s tactics in its attacks on the region, citing the UK’s assessment that cooperation between Moscow and Tehran on intelligence, drone technology training and electronic warfare “continues to this day.”
