The UK’s defence secretary has confirmed that the country is currently reassessing its terror threat level in the wake of Iran’s retaliatory strikes in response to US-Israeli missile attacks in the Middle East.
Over the weekend, the US initiated ‘Operation Epic Fury’ in conjunction with Israel, resulting in the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Tehran swiftly targeted US bases in the Middle East, including those in Dubai.
In an interview with Sky News, John Healey mentioned that the UK is evaluating the possibility of raising the terror threat level due to concerns about potential Iranian retaliatory actions reaching British soil. He emphasized the need for heightened vigilance given the current situation in the region.
Healey expressed confidence in Home Secretary Shabanah Mahmood’s decision-making abilities and praised the intelligence agencies for their capabilities in dealing with terrorist threats effectively.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) and MI5 have categorized the current threat level as “substantial”, indicating a likelihood of an attack. The two higher threat levels are “severe”, signifying a high probability of an attack, and “critical”, suggesting an imminent threat.
Highlighting past incidents, Healey pointed out that security services have thwarted 20 terror attacks linked to the Iranian regime in the UK, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by Iran.
He condemned the Iranian regime for its violent actions, stating that preventing them from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a top priority. He also noted that many view Khamenei’s death as a positive development, particularly those affected by the regime’s oppressive tactics.
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