The United Kingdom is deploying additional troops and air defence systems to the Middle East to help defend regional allies against Iranian attacks, increasing the total number of British personnel supporting operations in the Gulf and Cyprus to around 1,000.
Defence Secretary John Healey announced the expanded deployment during a visit to Gulf nations, confirming that new air defence teams and systems will be sent to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The UK will also extend the deployment of Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets currently stationed in Qatar.
Healey said the move reinforces Britain’s commitment to regional security. He told Gulf partners that the UK would help protect their airspace, stating that Britain’s military capabilities would support efforts to defend the region’s skies.
The UK government has emphasized that its role in the growing conflict is limited to defensive operations. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated that Britain will not become directly involved in the war but will continue to safeguard its interests and allies in the region.
Speaking earlier this week, Starmer said the UK would not be drawn into the conflict with Iran but would maintain its defensive commitments.
Healey’s trip included visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain, where regional leaders praised the role of British forces in their security. He said Gulf partners described the UK’s military presence as a cornerstone of their defence systems.
The defence secretary warned that Iran has expanded its attacks across the region and suggested the conflict could continue for several more weeks.
Concerns about regional security have intensified after a power and desalination plant in Kuwait was damaged in an attack earlier this week. Qatar also warned that strikes targeting civilian infrastructure could threaten stability across the entire Gulf.
As part of the new deployments, the UK will send its Sky Sabre air defence missile system to Saudi Arabia along with specialist personnel to operate it. The system includes advanced radar, a command node, and missile launchers designed to intercept incoming missiles, aircraft, and other airborne threats.
In Bahrain, Britain has already deployed its Lightweight Multirole Missile launcher, a short-range air defence system, alongside military experts who will help integrate the technology into the country’s existing defence network.
Meanwhile, Kuwait has received the Rapid Sentry ground-based air defence system as part of the expanded defensive support.
The UK has also extended the deployment of Typhoon fighter jets at the Dukhan air base in Qatar. Earlier this month, Starmer confirmed that four additional jets would be sent to reinforce the joint UK-Qatari Typhoon squadron that began operations earlier this year.
Despite the increased military presence, the prime minister stressed that British troops will not be deployed on the ground inside Iran.
The UK has previously allowed the United States to use British military bases for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites. However, Starmer rejected a request from Washington earlier this year to use UK bases for initial US-Israeli strikes against Iran.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the UK and other NATO allies for refusing to participate in those early attacks. In a recent post on his Truth Social platform, Trump suggested countries that declined involvement should secure their own oil supplies from the Strait of Hormuz.
The US president said nations that refused to participate in the strikes should buy fuel from the United States or take action themselves to protect access to the key shipping route.
Healey downplayed tensions with Washington, stressing that the UK and US remain closely aligned militarily and share intelligence cooperation on global security threats.
He said allied countries are examining multiple options to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open to global shipping. The UK has already deployed military planners to US headquarters, and a British Navy vessel may support operations involving autonomous drones designed to clear potential naval mines in the critical waterway.
Political debate has also intensified within the UK over the government’s approach to the conflict. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party criticized Starmer’s strategy as inconsistent, accusing him of sending troops to the region despite earlier assurances that Britain would not get involved in the war.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have called on the government to publish the legal advice underpinning the decision to deploy additional British forces to the Middle East.