Britain is taking significant measures to bolster its military presence in the Middle East in response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, as announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. While traveling to Canada for G7 discussions, Starmer revealed that the UK is deploying additional assets, including Eurofighter Typhoon jets, to the region for “contingency support.” This decision comes amidst rising tensions and threats from Iran against Western nations.
Starmer’s comments were made during a flight to Canada where he explained that the deployment is part of a broader strategy to ensure readiness in the face of escalating hostilities. The UK’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed the involvement of additional refueling aircraft, enhancing operational capabilities in the region.
Currently, Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets are active in the Middle East under Operation Shader, which represents Britain’s commitment to the international coalition against the Islamic State group. Notably, in April 2024, these jets played a crucial role in intercepting Iranian drones aimed at Israel, an action validated by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
While Starmer has refrained from specifying a potential direct military involvement in the burgeoning conflict, he acknowledged that hostilities between Israel and Iran have intensified significantly and are now in their fourth day. Iran has issued stern warnings, stating that it may target military bases in the U.S., UK, and France if these nations intervene to limit Iranian strikes on Israel. Tehran has additionally urged Western nations to exert pressure on Israel to cease its military campaigns against Iran.
The exact destination of the newly deployed fighter jets has not been disclosed by the Ministry of Defence; however, reports indicate they will likely operate from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which serves as Britain’s principal air force base in the region. This base is integral to Operation Shader and facilitates the deployment of RAF aircraft involved in various military operations, including transport and reconnaissance.
Beyond air operations, the UK maintains a robust naval presence in the Middle East, primarily centered at the UK Naval Support Facility in Bahrain, which is home to a type-23 frigate and several mine-counter vessels. The British Army also has a continuous deployment of two infantry battalions in Cyprus, with around 2,220 soldiers stationed there as of April of the previous year. Additionally, UK forces are engaged in training missions designed to bolster the capabilities of Iraqi and Kurdish security forces in their struggle against IS, with about 200 personnel actively deployed in Iraq.
This escalation of military resources underscores Britain’s commitment to regional security and its efforts to navigate the complexities of international relations amid rising geopolitical tensions.
