This video grab taken from UGC images posted on social media shows the moment of a strike on a U.S. base in Bahrain. AFP
In separate interviews with BBC and Sky News, Healey said 300 British personnel were stationed at a military base in Bahrain, some within several hundred metres of a missile and drone strike on Saturday.
“At that Bahrain military base that was hit by missiles and drones yesterday, we had 300 British personnel, some within several hundred yards of the strike,” Healey told the BBC.
He confirmed that two ballistic missiles were fired “in the direction of Cyprus” but were intercepted by UK forces. “We’re pretty sure they weren’t targeted at Cyprus,” he added.
Healey did not provide details on the timing of the launches or the systems used for interception.
The attacks, he said, demonstrate how British military personnel and civilians are “at risk with a regime that is increasingly indiscriminate, widespread and uncontrolled in the attacks it is mounting.”
However, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, government spokesman for the Republic of Cyprus, denied that missiles were launched toward the island. He stressed that authorities have detected no threat while continuing to monitor developments closely.
"In relation to statements and media reports referring to the launch of missiles towards the direction of Cyprus, it is clarified that this is not the case and there is no indication whatsoever that any threat to the country has occurred," Letymbiotis said.
He added that the competent authorities are continuously monitoring the situation.
UK role
Healey declined to rule out the possibility of the UK joining the United States and Israel in active operations against Iran but stressed that Britain’s current role is defensive.
Speaking to Sky News, Healey said Royal Air Force jets are operating over the Middle East in a defensive capacity, tasked with intercepting missiles or drones aimed at UK allies, including Qatar and Cyprus.
“We’ve been no part of the strikes,” Healey said. “We are concentrating the efforts that we are making on defensive actions. We’ve done that from the start and moved in extra radars, planes and other weapon systems to Cyprus and to Qatar.”
He did not specify which countries or assets were being defended, but said British forces continue to coordinate across the region to protect national interests and allies.
Pressed on whether Britain could become directly involved in attacking Iran, Healey said, “I’m not going to speculate — and you wouldn’t expect me to — on a hypothetical situation or potential discussions and operations.”
The comments follow remarks by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said on Saturday that RAF jets “are in the sky” over the Middle East conducting defensive missions.
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