UK troops and civilians in Middle East put at risk by Iran strikes, Healey says
March 02, 2026
British troops and civilians in the Middle East are being put at risk from "indiscriminate attacks" by Iran, the defence secretary has said, adding that protecting them is his priority.
John Healey told the BBC "no-one will mourn" Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during US and Israeli air strikes on Iran.
The UK did not participate in the strikes and the defence secretary said it was for the US to set out the legal basis for its actions.
He said since the strikes had begun, British military personnel in Bahrain had been "within several hundred yards" of a retaliatory missile and drone strike on Saturday, while two missiles had been fired in the direction of Cyprus.