The United Kingdom has deployed elite counter-drone specialists to the Middle East to strengthen the protection of military bases against potential Iranian drone attacks. The WP Times eports, citing The Telegraph, that British soldiers were sent to the region earlier this week after gaining practical experience and tactical knowledge during training programmes connected to the war in Ukraine. Renewz reports that the move reflects growing concern among Western military planners about the rapid expansion of drone warfare across the Middle East.
The troops reportedly arrived in the region on Tuesday, 3 March, with additional personnel expected to be deployed later this week. Their mission focuses on advising allied forces and strengthening air-defence coordination against unmanned aerial vehicles.
Among those deployed are soldiers from the 12th Regiment Royal Artillery, the British Army’s main unit specialising in counter-unmanned aerial systems. The regiment has been at the centre of Britain’s efforts to develop new tactics against drones used in modern conflicts.
Several of these specialists previously trained alongside Ukrainian forces, sharing operational experience in detecting, tracking and neutralising drones. During those programmes, British instructors helped Ukrainian troops operate missile systems and improve battlefield coordination against Russian-made UAVs. Sources familiar with the deployment told the newspaper that the military personnel were sent following requests from several countries in the region seeking additional expertise in counter-drone defence.
The deployment reportedly includes two groups of British military advisers. The first group consists of soldiers with operational experience working with Ukrainian forces. According to a source cited by the publication, these specialists are expected to provide highly technical guidance on integrating drone detection systems with warning networks and targeting procedures.
“They have experience from Ukraine and will be able to offer specialised advice, particularly on how to combine detection, early warning and targeting systems against drones,” the source said.
The precise location of the British troops has not been publicly disclosed. Defence sources indicated that the deployment does not represent a wider mobilisation order. Instead, the soldiers are likely replacing personnel already stationed in the region.
Drone strike near RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus
The decision to deploy additional counter-drone specialists followed a drone strike near the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus on Sunday evening, according to The Telegraph, cited by RBC-Ukraine. Military analysts believe the drone involved resembled the Iranian-designed Shahed loitering munition. Such drones have been widely used by Iran’s regional partners and have also appeared on the battlefield in Ukraine, where Russia has employed them in large numbers against Ukrainian infrastructure and military targets. The incident raised concerns among Western military officials about the vulnerability of regional bases to increasingly sophisticated drone attacks.
In response to the growing tension, Spain and Italy have also decided to send naval support to Cyprus, deploying frigates to assist the Greek navy in strengthening the island’s maritime security and air-defence posture. The move reflects a broader effort by European allies to reinforce defensive coordination as drone warfare becomes an increasingly central element of conflicts in the Middle East and beyond.
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