Britain’s Defense Secretary, John Healey, has revealed that two missiles launched from Iran were fired toward Cyprus, home to British military bases. Speaking to The Independent, Healey said the government was “fairly confident” the projectiles were not intended to target UK installations.
However, he warned that the episode demonstrated “how indiscriminate” Iran’s retaliatory actions have become.
Healey also disclosed that around 300 British service personnel had been stationed near potential targets in Bahrain at the time of the strikes. “Some of them were within a few hundred meters of where missiles landed,” he said, underlining the risks faced by UK forces in the region.
The defense secretary made the remarks during morning television appearances, a day after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom had ordered aircraft into Middle Eastern airspace for defensive operations.
Healey called on Iran to halt its missile attacks and abandon its weapons programs, following pre-emptive strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian military infrastructure and leadership targets.
He sharply criticized Iran’s regime, citing its alleged history of terrorist plots against the UK, domestic repression, and the supply of drones to Russia. He also voiced concern about the broader regional consequences of escalating hostilities.
Pressed on the legality of the US-Israeli strikes, Healey declined to offer a judgment, saying it was for Washington to explain its actions. He did, however, insist that all British defensive operations in the region are conducted in full compliance with international law.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Cypriot Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, dismissed reports suggesting that Iranian missiles were launched toward the Republic of Cyprus.
In a post on X, Letymbiotis stated: “Regarding statements and publications referring to the launch of missiles in the direction of Cyprus, it is clarified that this is not true, and there is no indication of any threat to the country. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis.”
