British Defense Secretary John Healey revealed on Sunday that two Iranian missiles were launched towards the direction of Cyprus.
Healey clarified that it is not yet certain whether the missiles were intentionally targeting the British military installations on the island. “We are not sure if they were deliberately targeting our bases,” he stated, highlighting the ambiguity of the flight paths during the mass bombardment.
Troops at risk in the Gulf
The Defense Secretary further disclosed that approximately 300 British military personnel were positioned near targeted sites in Bahrain during the wave of Iranian strikes.
Speaking to Sky News, Healey addressed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following the US-Israeli strikes, remarking that “few people will mourn the death of the Ayatollah.” However, he stressed that his primary concern remains the potential fallout from the attacks on Iran and the imminent risk of a wider regional escalation.
Condemnation of Tehran
Healey called on Iran to immediately cease its missile attacks and abandon its weapons programs following the preemptive strikes by US and Israeli forces on Iranian military infrastructure and leadership.
He condemned the Iranian regime, citing its history of:
- Terrorist plots against the United Kingdom.
- Severe internal repression of its citizens.
- Supply of attack drones to Russia for the war in Ukraine.
Legal stance on strikes
When questioned on the legality of the US-Israeli operations, Healey declined to comment directly, stating that the US would have to provide its own explanations. However, he confirmed that all UK defensive operations in the region are conducted in strict compliance with international law.
