Two ballistic missiles capable of causing significant damage were fired towards Cyprus on Saturday, it has been confirmed.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the Ministry of Defence does not believe the missiles were “targeted” at the island. But he said Iran was becoming “increasingly indiscriminate, widespread and uncontrolled” in its attacks.
The Cabinet minister said “few people will mourn” the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following his death in joint US-Israeli strikes on Saturday, branding his regime in Iran as a “source of evil”.
In the latest update, Mr Healey this morning told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “In Cyprus, we had two ballistic missiles fired in the direction of Cyprus. Now we are pretty sure they weren’t targeted at Cyprus, but nevertheless it demonstrates how our bases, our personnel, military and civilians at the moment are at risk with a regime that is increasingly indiscriminate, widespread and uncontrolled in the attacks. It’s mounting.”
Mr Healey also said Iranian strikes landed within “a few hundred yards” of British troops in Bahrain.
(
Sky News)
Mr Healey said: “When I talk about increasingly indiscriminate, attacks, I know people at home will be worried that not just military targets were hit last yesterday, but also we’ve seen hotels in Dubai and Bahrain. We’ve seen Kuwait’s civilian airport. But in that Bahrain military base that was hit by missiles and drones yesterday, we had 300 British personnel, some within several hundred yards of the strike.”
He also warned that Iranian missile commanders were “increasingly allowed to choose their own targets” as the country was “losing its command and control”.
The Defence chief said defensive British aircraft in the Middle East will “take down” Iranian missiles and drones if they see them.
Asked what the defensive operations flown by UK aircraft involved, he told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “When our UK planes fly from Qatar, they are protecting against any missiles or drones directed towards Qatar.
“When they fly from Cyprus, they’re doing the same for Cyprus. But of course, when our planes are in the air and they see things, missiles or drones directed towards other countries, they’ll take them down.
“So when I talk about Britain playing a role in reinforcing regional stability as part of co-ordinated regional defensive operations, that’s what I mean.”
And on the death of Khamenei, Mr Healey continued: “I think few people will mourn the Ayatollah’s death, not least the family and friends of those thousands of young protesters murdered on the streets of Iranian cities.
“Iran and the regime he’s led for so long, it’s a source of evil, murdering its own citizens and sponsoring and exporting terror, including to countries like Britain.”