Britain has deployed elite counter-drone specialists to the Middle East to help defend military bases against Iranian aerial attacks, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday, March 4.
According to the report, soldiers who have trained in anti-drone tactics alongside Ukrainian forces were sent to the region earlier this week, with additional personnel expected to arrive in the coming days.
Among the troops deployed are soldiers from the British Army’s 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, one of the United Kingdom’s main counter-drone units.
A Western official told the newspaper that the first group arrived in the region on Tuesday and will provide specialized advice on detecting, tracking and targeting drones.
“The first of the team arrived in the region yesterday and the next group are arriving today,” the official said. “They have experience working in Ukraine and with Ukrainian forces.”
The exact location of the deployment has not been disclosed. Officials said the troops will likely replace personnel already stationed in the region rather than represent a broader mobilization.
The move came after a drone struck RAF Akrotiri, a British air base in Cyprus, on Sunday evening, causing minor damage.
Western officials said the drone resembled an Iranian-made Shahed-type drone, which has been widely used by Iran in the Middle East and by Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Britain has increased air defense measures around the base in recent days, though officials declined to specify which systems were deployed.
The 12 Regiment Royal Artillery specializes in countering drones and helicopters using lightweight multirole missiles capable of intercepting aerial targets up to about 8 kilometers (5 miles) away.
British troops from the unit have previously helped train Ukrainian operators to use the same missile systems against Russian drones.
The deployment comes as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East following recent US and Israeli strikes against Iran.