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Cachella Smith, Jonathan Beale,Defence correspondentand Katy Watson,reporting from Doha
Amiri Diwan/Handout via REUTERS
Defence Secretary John Healey has met with the Emir of Qatar as part of a trip to the Gulf nations
Extra British troops and more UK air defence systems will be deployed to the Middle East for defensive action against Iranian attacks, bringing the total number of UK personnel involved in the defence of the Gulf and Cyprus to around 1,000.
On a trip to the Gulf nations, Defence Secretary John Healey said extra air defence teams and systems would be deployed to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait while the use of Typhoon jets in Qatar will be extended.
"My message to Gulf partners is: Britain's best will help you defend your skies," he said.
The UK's position on the war in the Middle East is to participate in "defensive action" but US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised that stance.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday the UK is "not going to get dragged into this war" but would continue to defend its interests and allies in the region.
The defence secretary has been visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain as the government announced the deployment of further systems, and associated teams, for the nations and for Kuwait.
Speaking to reporters from Qatar, Healey said the Gulf nations had praised the contributions of UK forces describing them as "a cornerstone" to their defence.
He added that Iran had been "expanding" its attacks in the region and that he expected the war to continue "for some weeks".
Qatar warned earlier on Tuesday that attacks on its civilian infrastructure are a threat to the entire region.
The comments came after a power and desalination plant in Kuwait was damaged in an attack earlier this week.
Visiting the UK Armed Forces at Dukhan air base, Healey said the government has extended the deployment of UK Typhoon jets to Qatar.
Separately, the defence secretary told Saudi Arabia's defence minister that the UK will deploy air defence missile system Sky Sabre there this week along with teams to operate the system.
The system, composed of radars, control node, and missile launchers, can intercept munitions and aircraft and will integrate within the wider air defences in the region, the ministry said.
The UK's Lightweight Multirole Missile launcher, a short-range air defence system, has already been deployed to Bahrain along with UK experts who will work to integrate the system into Bahraini defences - and ground-based air defence missile system Rapid Sentry has arrived in Kuwait.
Ministry of Defence
Royal Marine commandos using the Lightweight Multirole Missile launcher in Cyprus in March 2026
Speaking on Monday, Starmer reiterated that UK troops will not be deployed on the ground in Iran.
"This is not our war and we're not going to get drawn into it," he said while responding to a question from reporters.
President Trump has been critical of the UK's involvement in the war, as well as that of other Nato allies.
On Tuesday, the president specifically referenced the UK as he said countries that did not participate in the initial strikes on Iran should "get your own oil" from the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, the US president said: "All of those countries that can't get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
"You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself."
Healey told reporters on Tuesday that allies were looking at a range of options to keep the key shipping lane open. He said it would require an international response - which included the US.
He also said that military planners have been deployed to US military headquarters, and that a British Navy ship will also be used to facilitate autonomous drones that could clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz if and when that was necessary.
But he batted away the Trump administration's irritation with the UK not getting involved in the war.
"We're two nations whose militaries are bound closely together, that work closely together, whose intelligence services share uniquely the recognition of the threats around the world and the action that free nations must take and take together."
