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Iranian missiles were fired in the direction of Cyprus during Tehran’s recent retaliatory strikes, according to the UK’s Defence Secretary, John Healey, who said the projectiles were successfully intercepted.
Healey disclosed on Sunday that two Iranian missiles appeared to be heading toward Cyprus, where the United Kingdom operates major military facilities at Akrotiri. However, he emphasized that British officials cannot yet determine whether the bases were intentionally targeted.
“We are not sure whether they deliberately targeted our bases,” he clarified.
The defence secretary said Royal Air Force jets are being launched from British installations in both Cyprus and Qatar as part of ongoing efforts to shield the two countries from potential Iranian attacks.
Healey also revealed that roughly 300 British service members had been stationed near locations in Bahrain that were considered potential targets.
In an interview with Sky News, he remarked, “Few people will mourn the death of the Ayatollah.”
Despite the strong rhetoric, Healey stressed that his primary concern is the broader fallout from the strikes on Iran and the possibility that tensions could spiral into a wider regional conflict.
He urged Tehran to halt its missile launches and abandon its weapons development programs, following what he described as preemptive US and Israeli strikes against Iranian military facilities and leadership figures.
The British defence chief sharply criticized Iran’s government, pointing to what he described as a history of terrorist plotting against the UK, domestic repression, and the provision of drones to Russia. He warned that these factors heighten worries about instability across the region.
Healey declined to assess whether the American and Israeli attacks were lawful, saying that explanation should come from Washington. He did, however, reiterate that all UK defensive actions in the area are conducted in accordance with international law.
With information from skai.gr via Kathimerini Cyprus.
