The aircraft, assigned to No. 12 Squadron RAF and based at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, detected the target during the mission. Upon identification, the pilot received authorisation to open fire and used an air-to-air guided missile to destroy the drone, although further details of the engagement were not disclosed.
The British military presence in the Gulf region remains limited. The main base supporting operations across the Middle East is RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, where a contingent of six Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II multi-role combat aircraft and at least two Airbus A330MRTT Voyager multi-role air-to-air refuelling aircraft are currently stationed, alongside a Eurofighter Typhoon detachment.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Britain does not currently plan to participate in offensive operations against Iran. The contingent in Qatar is tasked with supporting the emirate’s forces in protecting its territory and civilian population.
Over just two days of fighting, Iran reportedly used around one hundred missiles of various types or long-range unmanned aerial vehicles against Qatar. Most of them were intercepted by air forces or air defence systems.
