Drone Clash: UK Forces Down Iranian UAVs in Iraq

United Kingdom forces shot down 2 Iranian drones during a tense attack on a coalition base in Erbil, highlighting rising Middle East tensions.

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Mar 13, 2026 - 05:20

Drone Clash: UK Forces Down Iranian UAVs in Iraq

Defense Secretary John Healey said British forces in Iraq shot down two Iranian drones overnight.

However, some drones attacked a coalition base in the Iraqi city of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, injuring several US troops. No British soldiers were killed.

Brigadier Guy Foden said the base and another base in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, were attacked "multiple times" Wednesday night, and British personnel are currently helping to defend that base in Erbil.

Since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, US bases in Iraq have been targeted in retaliatory attacks.

The Western Base in Erbil is under US control, but other forces, including British troops, are frequently stationed there.

Foden said British forces "shot down two UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) leaving the camp, but several UAVs hit the camp."

Healey said that a British team had been involved in Iraq since Iran began carrying out "indiscriminate retaliatory attacks" on Middle Eastern countries.

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He said, "One of our teams at the base in Erbil was shooting down drones, protecting themselves and the base and other service personnel working there."

Healey was speaking during a visit to UK Military Headquarters in Northwood, northwest London, where he received a briefing on the latest situation in the Middle East.

UK Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Nick Perry, told Healey at the briefing that the way attack drones were being used provided "strong" indications of a link between Russia and Iran.

Healey later told reporters that Iranian drone strikes mirrored Russian tactics in the Ukraine attack, adding: "It would surprise no one to believe that Putin is behind Iranian tactics."

The Defense Secretary said Putin is "a world leader" who is benefiting from this war due to high oil prices, which he said will help the Russian president supply new funds for his brutal war in Ukraine.

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Furthermore, Foden said that overnight the UK conducted air combat patrols over Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to "multiple flights" over Qatar.

RAF jets also flew in the region with European allies to protect Cyprus.

Healey further stated that the UK has completed more than 300 pilot flying hours in the past 13 days.

A British warship, HMS Dragon, which departed the UK for the region on Tuesday, was on its way to the Mediterranean by Thursday afternoon.

Healey said the Strait of Hormuz was also discussed with defense personnel, as reports were becoming clear that Iran "may be mining the strait."

Healy said the UK had some “autonomous de-mining assets” in the area, but the only Royal Navy mine-hunting ship deployed to Bahrain, HMS Middleton, had returned to Portsmouth for planned maintenance.

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