RAF Typhoon jets in action over Bahrain

"Two jets out of the four sent to Qatar have been allocated specifically to help Bahrain intercept incoming drones, as the US-Israel war with Iran has entered its second week. It comes as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper landed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday amid continued concern about Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz - a key artery for commercial shipping."

"Bahraini officials said a total of 190 incoming drones and 114 missiles have been intercepted, primarily by its own air defences, since the conflict began. They added that they still have an urgent need for Short Range Air Defence to counter drones. The country's airport fuel storage tanks were badly hit by an Iranian drone earlier this week."

"Defence Secretary John Healey said on Thursday that the UK had clocked up more than 300 pilot flying hours over the previous 13 days. Brigadier Guy Foden, a senior British Army officer, added that the UK had flown air combat patrols over Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to a number of sorties over Qatar."

RAF Typhoon jets have been deployed to the Gulf region as part of UK defence contributions to its Arab allies amid escalating US-Israel-Iran tensions. Two of four jets sent to Qatar are specifically assigned to assist Bahrain in intercepting incoming drones. Bahrain has intercepted 190 drones and 114 missiles since the conflict began, with the country experiencing the highest casualty toll among Gulf nations from a single Iranian strike on 9 March, injuring 23 civilians including four children. UK Defence Secretary John Healey reported over 300 pilot flying hours in 13 days. British forces have conducted air combat patrols over Jordan, UAE, and Qatar, while also defending Cyprus following an Iranian drone strike on RAF Akrotiri. HMS Dragon has deployed to the eastern Mediterranean to protect the base.

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