Get you up to speed: Iran launches drone strike on US-led forces base in Erbil, injuring soldiers
A drone strike targeted a joint Special Forces base in Erbil, Iraq, injuring US soldiers. Brigadier Guy Foden confirmed that British personnel are assisting with the defence of that base.
Brigadier Guy Foden stated that British personnel in Erbil were assisting with the defence of the joint Special Forces base, and confirmed that they had successfully intercepted two UAVs during the drone strike attack. Defence Secretary John Healey highlighted the possibility of a link between Russia and Iran’s drone tactics, signalling concerns over Vladimir Putin’s influence in the region.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence has reported that British pilots have now completed over 300 operational flying hours while conducting defensive air operations over Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE, with multiple drones being shot down in the process. Additionally, Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to continue strikes on military bases in neighbouring countries, warning of the consequences for those that do not close such bases.
Special forces base struck by drones amid fears Putin is helping Iran | News World
Smoke rises after an explosion at the airport in Erbil, Iraq, late Wednesday, March 11, 2026.(Picture: AP)
An SAS base was hit by a drone strike, injuring US soldiers, as it was feared Vladimir Putin could be giving Iranian’s a helping hand with their tactics.
A swarm of Iranian drones struck a joint Special Forces base in the Kurdistan regional capital Erbil on Wednesday night.
Brigadier Guy Foden, a commander at Britain’s Permanent Joint Headquarters, revealed: ‘We have personnel in Erbil who are currently helping with the defence of that base.
‘Last night they shot down two UAVs coming at the camp, but a number of UAVs did impact on the camp.’
American soldiers were injured in the attack but the British suffered no casualties, according to The Sun.
Thick plumes of smoke emerge from a base following a drone strike (Picture: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Lt Gen Nick Perry, the commander of UK global operations, confirmed the US casualties were not life-threatening.
He told Defence Secretary John Healey at a briefing: ‘All our people remain safe, touch wood, but the Americans took some casualties last night, but nothing too serious.’
It comes as the defence secretary said Vladimir Putin’s ‘hidden hands’ may be behind some of Iran’s tactics in the Middle East.
London, where he received an operational update on the situation in the Middle East and the defensive action the UK is taking to protect people, bases and partners in the region. Picture date: Thursday March 12, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy”/>
John Healey is shown a map of the Middle East situation given a briefing during a visit to the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, London (Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
John Healey visited the Northwood military headquarters in Hertfordshire on Thursday, where he was briefed on the latest updates on British operations in the region.
The UK’s chief of joint operations, Lieutenant General Nick Perry, told the defence secretary there were ‘definitively’ signs of a link between Russia and Iran, including Iran’s use of drones, as learned from the Russians’.
Asked later by reporters for examples of such links, Mr Healey said: ‘At the moment, we’re taking part in analysing the drone that struck the hangar at Akrotiri for any evidence of Russian or any other foreign components and parts.
‘We will update you and appropriately publish any findings from that when we’ve got them, but I think no one will be surprised to believe that Putin’s hidden hand is behind some of the Iranian tactics, potentially some of their capabilities as well, not least because one world leader that is benefiting from the sky high oil prices at the moment is Putin.
‘It helps him with a fresh supply of funds for his brutal war in Ukraine.’
Brigadier Guy Foden said on Wednesday night that the UK had flown air combat patrols over Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, along with a ‘number of sorties’ over Qatar.
An oil tanker burns after being hit by an Iranian strike near Basra, Iraq (Picture: AP)
RAF jets have also continued to fly in defence of Cyprus with European allies in the region.
Following the US-Israeli strikes, Iran has warned vessels not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to the price of heating oil doubling in the past week.
Asked whether the UK would be prepared to participate in a patrol of the straits, Mr Healey said: ‘So firstly, these are early days.
‘The reports of Iran mining the Straits is becoming established. The evidence and number of commercial ships being attacked is becoming established.
‘The two things that I think are most significant are, first, that recognising the huge impact that this potentially has on oil prices and on people’s cost of living around the world.
‘There is an international imperative and incentive to try and see this resolved.
‘Big steps like the record release of reserve oil helps, but doesn’t solve the problem.’
Ministry of Defence round up of latest British activity in Middle East
• RAF Typhoon and F-35B jets have continued defensive air operations over Jordan, Qatar and the UAE, with support from Voyager air-to-air refuelling in defence of British interests and allies.
• British pilots have now racked up more than 300 operational flying hours and shot down multiple drones in defence of our allies and partners.
• Overnight, a British Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems unit also took down two drones in the region that were threatening lives on the ground.
Israel and the Gulf states on March 9, 2026, as the Middle East war sent oil prices soaring. (Photo by ROUHOLLAH VAHDATI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images)” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy”/>
Mojtaba Khamenei has promised to avenge his family wiped out in a US-Israeli strike (Picture: AFP)
It came after Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei released his first message of vengeance for his war-ravaged homeland after his father was killed in US-Israeli strikes.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader said in a written statement: ‘I assure everyone that we will not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs.
‘The revenge we are considering is not only related to the martyrdom of the great leader of the revolution; rather, every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy is an independent subject for the revenge case.’
He warned that he would ‘inevitably’ continue strikes on military bases in neighbouring countries, adding: ‘The enemy has been gradually establishing military and financial bases in some of these countries for years in order to secure its dominance over the region.
‘In the recent attack, some military bases were used, and naturally, as we had explicitly warned, we simply attacked those bases without attacking those countries.
‘I recommend that they close those bases as soon as possible, because they must have realised by now that the claim of establishing security and peace by America was nothing more than a lie.’
The message was released by Iranian state television, despite claims he’s lost one leg and suffered serious abdominal injuries in a US-Israeli air strike that wiped out his family. Some reports say he’s in a coma.
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