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Defence secretary twice declines to rule out Britain joining strikes on Iran
Healey confirmed defensive steps including anti-drone helicopters and HMS Dragon deployment while not excluding future UK offensive strikes amid Iran tensions.
- On March 5, 2026, Defence Secretary John Healey twice declined to rule out Britain joining strikes on Iran during an interview at RAF Akrotiri by Sky's Europe correspondent Ali Bunkall.
- The spike in attacks after a US–Israel joint strike prompted the UK to reinforce defences, with Healey saying 'everything that we have done is defensive, is legal, and is coordinated with other allies.'
- The ministry listed anti-drone helicopters, deployment of HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean, and international planning teams, though Sky News reported the ship will not sail until next week.
- After the Monday drone attack on RAF Akrotiri, Healey noted 'everything that we have done is defensive, is legal, and is coordinated with other allies,' and emphasized the need to adapt actions as circumstances change.
- When pressed on timing, Healey deflected as images from RAF Akrotiri show limited damage after a Monday drone strike and regional incidents including an unexploded projectile in Syria.
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9 Articles
Defence secretary twice declines to rule out Britain joining strikes on Iran
"As circumstances in any conflict change, you've got to be willing to adapt the action you take," John Healey told Sky News while on a visit to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which had come under attack from a drone earlier in the week.
The Independent
The Independent (US)John Healey declines to rule out UK aircraft taking part in Iran strikes
The Defence Secretary met his counterpart in Cyprus earlier on Thursday to ease tensions about Britain’s response to drone attacks on the island
Defence Secretary John Healey refuses to rule out British forces getting drawn into Iran war - The Mirror
Defence Secretary John Healey spoke to the Daily Mirror during a quick visit to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus which was hit by an Iran-backed terror drone as war got underway
UK backs RAF strikes on Iranian missile sites
Senior UK officials have indicated a willingness to take strong defensive measures against Iranian missile threats following recent attacks on British military assets in the region. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch stated that she would support Royal Air Force jets targeting Iranian missile launch sites if necessary. Speaking about the recent strikes on a British air base in Cyprus, she criticized the government’s response, claiming that …
March 6, 2026 Baghdad/Basel: British Defense Secretary John Healy refused to rule out British aircraft participation in the raids...
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