British Troops Burning Through Missiles Shooting Down Putin-Backed Drones British forces stationed in northern Iraq are firing so many missiles to intercept Iranian drones that emergency resupply flights have already been sent to keep defences operational. Senior commanders say the attacks have become relentless, with drones targeting coalition positions near Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. Brigadier Guy Foden confirmed British personnel were actively helping defend the base when another wave of drones struck overnight. “We have personnel in Erbil who are currently helping with the defence of that base,” he said. “Last night they shot down two UAVs coming at the camp, but a number of UAVs did impact on the camp.” Missiles Fired At ‘Continuous’ RateUK Defence Secretary John Healey described the tempo of operations as almost constant since the conflict erupted. Lieutenant General Nick Perry, the UK’s Chief of Joint Operations, confirmed that missile stocks had already been replenished after heavy use. The base is defended by RAF Regiment personnel using Rapid Sentry launch systems armed with Martlet missile system missiles capable of intercepting targets up to eight kilometres away. Russia Accused Of Helping Iran Improve Drone AttacksBritish commanders say Iranian forces have adopted tactics pioneered by Russia during the war in Ukraine, making drones harder to detect and intercept. According to Perry, the unmanned aircraft are now flying lower and faster — techniques widely used by Russian forces to bypass air defences. “We have seen definitely that Iranian drone tactics have learnt from the Russians,” he said. Healey went further, suggesting the influence of Vladimir Putin was behind the increasingly effective strikes. He warned that soaring oil prices caused by the conflict were also delivering financial benefits to the Kremlin. Investigation After Drone Strike On Cyprus BaseBritish investigators are also analysing debris from a drone that struck RAF Akrotiri, the UK’s main military base in Cyprus. The drone hit a hangar connected to intelligence operations and aircraft including the Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance plane. Military specialists are dismantling the weapon piece by piece in an attempt to determine whether it contains Russian-made components. Wider Conflict EscalatingThe drone campaign forms part of a widening regional conflict that has already drawn in multiple countries. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed a French soldier was killed during a separate drone attack on a coalition base in Iraqi Kurdistan. Meanwhile British combat aircraft have been flying patrols over Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as coalition forces attempt to contain the growing threat posed by Iran’s expanding drone campaign. SOURCE
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