The Royal Air Force (RAF) has confirmed its involvement in intercepting drones in the Middle East as the United Kingdom finds itself drawn into the conflict with Iran under Donald Trump’s administration.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence, F-35 aircraft were deployed to the Middle East to conduct drone interception missions in response to Iranian combatants targeting British and allied forces following the joint Israeli-US military action. The operations have taken place across various airspaces in the region, spanning from Jordan to Iraq.
The Ministry stated that the drone interception operations commenced on Monday and included the participation of both F-35 and Typhoon jets. This operation marked the first instance of F-35 jets shooting down unmanned aerial systems in the region.
In a separate operation, the British Armed Forces Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) team successfully neutralized drones flying over Iraqi airspace that posed a threat to coalition forces and allied personnel in the region.
The Ministry reported that on Monday, a Typhoon aircraft intercepted an Iranian drone targeting Qatar, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to defending its interests and allies in the Middle East. This interception was conducted by a Typhoon operating as part of the joint UK-Qatar 12 Squadron. The Ministry shared a video online showing the drone being taken down in mid-air.
The involvement of UK forces in the Middle East comes amidst tensions in the region, with President Trump expressing disappointment over the perceived lack of support from UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, in the initial stages of the conflict. Trump criticized Starmer for not allowing the use of UK bases for the initial assault, leading to delays in American military operations until RAF Fairford and the Diego Garcia base were eventually made available for use.
The Ministry of Defence’s actions reflect the UK’s commitment to supporting allies and safeguarding its interests in the face of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
