RAF fighter jets carried out military action to defend Jordan and Bahrain overnight as fighting intensifies in the Middle East.
The jets intercepted a drone heading towards Bahrain and took out an uncrewed aerial system to defend Jordan, the Ministry of Defence said.
Defence secretary John Healey confirmed the military action and said fragments of a drone that struck the UK base at Akrotiri, Cyprus, were being examined for “foreign military equipment”.
He also said the destroyer HMS Dragon would set sail for the eastern Mediterranean “in the next couple of days”, where it would join US air defence vessels.
Mr Healey has urged for de-escalation in Lebanon and “a return to a negotiated process”.
He said: “We are deeply concerned about escalation in Lebanon. Hezbollah is a dangerous terror organisation tied to the regime in Iran.
“It must cease these attacks against Israel, but we do not want to see Israel expand this conflict further into Lebanon.
“More than 400 have already been killed and half a million displaced by recent Israeli operations.
“The solution to these problems, to this conflict, must be guided by the Lebanese people and the Lebanese government, and we urge de-escalation and a return to a negotiated process.”
His warning comes as prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the longer the war in the Middle East continues, the more likely it is there will be economic damage in the UK. Rachel Reeves has also said the conflict is “likely to put upward pressure on inflation” over the coming months.
Fighting in the Middle East continued to intensify as the war between the US, Israel and Iran entered its tenth day.
Iran confirmed Mojtaba Khamenei would be taking over from his slain father as the supreme leader of Iran after President Donald Trump warned against an appointment without his approval.
Israeli strikes against Hezbollah hammered down on southern Lebanon as the UN’s Refugee Agency warned more than 500,000 civilians had been displaced.
Human Rights Watch accused Israel of using widely-banned white phosphorus over civilian homes in Lebanon. The white-hot substance can burn flesh down to the bone and set buildings on fire. At least 400 people have been killed in the fighting and more than 1,000 were injured.
