British bases on high alert for Iranian drone swarms
UK bases in the Middle East are on heightened alert for drone strikes after the US bombing of Iran.
John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said UK Armed Forces protection was at its 'highest level' amid fears that the US action could escalate into a wider conflict.
It is understood UK bases across the Middle East have increased security since the US action in the early hours of Sunday morning, with personnel on high alert for drone attacks as well as conventional rockets and missiles.
It comes amid increasing fears over the security of British bases at home and overseas.
On Saturday, a British man was arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on an RAF base on behalf of Iran.
On Friday, two pro-Palestinian protesters breached security at RAF Brize Norton and vandalised two planes.
In a post on X on Sunday, Mr Healey said: 'The safety of UK personnel and bases is my top priority. Force protection is at its highest level, and we deployed additional jets this week.'
Defence chiefs are likely to be concerned about the threat of drone attacks on UK bases after a swarm of Ukrainian drones damaged 40 Russian warplanes, including long-range nuclear-capable aircraft, at bases across the country.
Russia has used Iranian-made Shahed drones to devastating effect in Ukraine, triggering blackouts and damaging key power facilities.
The explosive charge of the Shahed-136 model was originally designed to destroy buildings but now also carries charges designed to kill via fragmentation or thermobaric bombs. Iran has also launched these drones against targets in Israel over the past weeks.
Earlier this month, Sir Keir Starmer said he was sending more RAF jets to the Middle East to protect UK assets. British bases in the Middle East include RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, where 14 RAF jets are now based, naval bases in Bahrain and Oman, and shared airbases in Qatar and the UAE.
Steps the bases could take to protect against Iranian threats could include increasing the number of guards on patrol, issuing more troops in bases with live ammunition and deploying more radar systems.
It is understood British bases are not yet preparing for any specific imminent attack, with the high alert level encompassing a broad range of threats from rockets to improvised explosive devices.
There have also been concerns about threats on UK soil. Last year, British troops were deployed to several US air bases across England amid reports of multiple unidentified drones flying over their airspace.
Military sources said that while it was not known whether they were dealing with a 'troublemaker' or something 'more sinister' – such as Russian involvement – there were concerns that a state actor could be behind the disruption.
Investment in drone technology was central to the Government's recent strategic defence review, with Mr Healey announcing more than £100 million to develop its land drone swarm programme.
In a significant breakthrough, a recent British Army radio wave trial in Wales took down a drone swarm for the first time, using specially developed weaponry.
It comes as serious questions have been raised about Britain's ability to secure its military bases after the break-in at RAF Brize Norton last week, with ministers urged to explain 'how on earth' the breach had been allowed to happen.
It emerged on Friday that part of the eight-mile perimeter was protected only by a 6ft wooden fence. Stretching for around 170 metres, it skirts along the end of the runway and is protected from the road by only a small line of wooden and concrete bollards.
Downing Street announced shortly after the incident that it was 'reviewing security across the whole defence estate'.
Ministers were warned earlier this month about security risks at bases in the review, which singled out Brize Norton as a 'high priority for investment and improvement'.
It said: 'The changing nature of the threat to UK and allied security means that RAF logistic support arrangements must be more resilient to disruption and military assault, requiring a different approach to fighting from air bases, and deeper, more dispersed stockpiles of munitions, spare parts, and fuel.'
The review called on the RAF to 'drive greater productivity to enhance its resilience', adding that Brize Norton 'should be a high priority for investment and improvement'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
37 minutes ago
- The Sun
Sophisticated Booking.com scam targeting holidaymakers could leave you £1,000s out of pocket – 3 urgent warning signs
HOLIDAYMAKERS are being warned about a scam that has already cost victims £370,000. Fraudsters are hacking hotel accounts on the platform and sending fake messages or emails that look legitimate. 2 This often happens when hotel staff accidentally click on a malicious link in an email, giving criminals access to the hotel's account on the platform. Once inside, scammers send messages to customers claiming payment details need to be verified or that a card has been declined. They then trick holidaymakers into entering their banking details via fraudulent links. Action Fraud has received over 500 reports of the scam between June 2023 and September 2024, with victims collectively losing £370,000 – or £700 per person. Customers have shared their close calls with the scam on X (formerly Twitter). One showed a message directly through their app which read: "Dear [XXX], we need you confirmation. "Your reservation and the details you entered are still pending. If you don't verify and complete everything within the next six hours, your booking will be automatically cancelled - no exceptions." The customers is then directed to click on a rogue link in the message chain to "confirm and finalize" their trip - even though it's already paid for. Consumer rights expert Martyn James said: "If you get a message from a hotel or host through or an email asking for your card details, ignore it. "Only go through your portal on the website to confirm payment details. Major warning over emergency social welfare scam texts as thousands could be targeted "Do not send money via links and never pay with bank transfers or PayPal 's 'friends and family' option." said its security hasn't been hacked, but scammers may have accessed the IT systems of some hotels listed on its site. A spokesperson added: "Unfortunately, there is an increasing number of online scams targeting many businesses operating in the e-commerce space. "With the rise of AI, cybercriminals are able to create increasingly sophisticated scams." If you get a message on asking for payment, contact your hotel, airline, or service provider directly to make sure it's real. Meanwhile, another scam targeting holidaymakers uses fake websites to trick people into downloading harmful files that give criminals control of their devices. HP Wolf Security says scammers send emails with links to these fake sites. When visitors click "accept" on the cookie pop-up, the malicious file is downloaded. Hotel booking scam cost me £800 By Laura Purkess CYBER scammers are impersonating hotels to steal holidaymakers' cash. Crooks swiped more than £15million from travellers through a range of rackets over the year to April, Action Fraud revealed. Recently, grifters have been messaging customers who have reserved hotels via travel website The website said its own security had not been breached, but confirmed that a number of the venues it lists have had their IT systems compromised by con artists. This can happen if a member of the hotel's staff mistakenly clicks on a link in an email sent by criminals, who can then log into the hotel's account on the booking site and message customers directly. Student Viktoria Tkach was duped into paying nearly £800 in one such scam. The 21 year-old, of Greenwich in South East London, had booked a trip to Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, with mum Natalie, 50, in February. A week before departure, Viktoria got a message, apparently from the hotel, saying she must pay £791 towards her stay or the reservation would be cancelled. She said: 'Because the message appeared in my account and looked so official, I felt like I had to follow orders.' It wasn't until Viktoria and her mum got to the hotel that she realised she had been scammed as the receptionist told her the full £937 for their 11-night break still had to be paid. She felt she had no choice but to fork out a second time. Viktoria fought for five months to get her money back, but the hotel and her bank all refused. It was only when Sun Money stepped in that agreed to a refund. A website spokesperson said: 'While there has not been a security breach on we are aware some of our accommodation partners were targeted by phishing messages, which compromised their internal systems. 'We take safety and security very seriously and were sorry to hear about Viktoria's experience. This is not the level of service we strive to provide.' It has now refunded Viktoria's money with an extra goodwill payment. Sun Money journalist Mel Hunter was targeted by a similar scam when she booked a holiday in Faro, Portugal, this month. 'The fact the message appeared in my account made it so convincing,' she revealed. 'Thankfully I smelled a rat, but the hotel told me other guests had lost money.' said it is supporting its hotel partners with training and guidance. How to report scams If you think you have been a victim of a scam, you should report it as soon as possible. There is no guarantee you'll get your money back, but banks will often compensate you if you can show you did not know the money would leave your account. You can forward scam emails to report@ If you notice a website that doesn't look quite right, you can also report it to the National Cyber Security Centre by visiting You should also contact your provider and report it to Action Fraud, which will give you a crime reference number. You can do this online by visiting or by calling 0300 123 2040. If you're in Scotland, report a scam through Advice Direct Scotland online by visiting You can also report scams to Police Scotland on 101. If you need further help, contact Citizens Advice Scams Action by visiting or calling 0808 223 1133. Action Fraud's advice on holiday fraud THINIKNG about booking a holiday this year? Follow our top tips to avoid falling victim to holiday fraud DO YOUR RESEARCH: Before committing and booking your dream holiday, make sure that you do a thorough online search to ensure the company is credible. PAY SAFELY: If you have a credit card, use it when shopping online. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases. LOOK FOR LOGOS: Check if a travel company is an ABTA, the Travel Association, member or an ATOL holder. Look for the ABTA logo on the company's website. If you have any doubts, you can verify their membership of ABTA online on their website. If you're booking a flight as part of a package holiday and want to find out more information about ATOL protection, visit the ATOL website. STAY SAFE ONLINE: Use three random words to create a strong email password that's different from all your other passwords. If two-step verification is available, always enable it. WATCH FOR SUSPICIOUS MESSAGES: Be cautious of unexpected emails or messages offering unrealistic holiday deals. If you receive a suspicious email, report it by forwarding it to: report@ PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION: Only fill in the mandatory details on a website when making a purchase. If possible, don't create an account for the online store when making your payment. BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: Be sceptical of unrealistic holiday deals. If they sound too good to be true, they probably are. Exercise caution and research before making a purchase.
BBC News
40 minutes ago
- BBC News
Kendall to set out welfare changes as modelling suggests 150,000 may be pushed into poverty
Update: Date: 15:09 BST Title: Who has said what? Content: While we're taking a look over that written statement, and waiting for things to get moving in the Commons, here's what some of the key players have said about the proposed welfare changes : After the concessions were announced, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the government was aiming to deliver a "fairer, more compassionate" benefits system. Labour rebels argued the original plans were rushed and would push vulnerable disabled people into poverty. Despite the government's partial U-turn, dozens are believed to still have misgivings about the changes and could defy the government in tomorrow's vote. The Liberal Democrats are planning to vote against the bill and have called for the government to bring forward its programme to help people into work more quickly. The Conservatives said ministers had wasted an opportunity to reform welfare and have called for cuts to mental health benefits for all but the worst cases. Update: Date: 15:02 BST Title: Government shares statement ahead of Commons address Content: A written ministerial statement, external from Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has just been published, ahead of her address in the Commons later this afternoon. We're reading through it now and will bring you the key lines imminently. Update: Date: 14:54 BST Title: What concessions has the government made? Content: The original bill set out changes to who could qualify for certain disability and sickness benefits. This includes restricting eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), and freezing the health-related element of universal credit (UC). Now Pip claimants will continue to receive what they currently get, as will recipients of the health-related element of UC. Instead, planned cuts will only hit new claimants. The government also reversed its plans to freeze the health-related component of UC. The payment will now rise in line with inflation for existing recipients. Update: Date: 14:37 BST Title: A simple guide to the planned changes to Pip and universal credit Content: Personal independence payment (Pip) is paid to 3.7 million people who have a long-term physical or mental health condition in England and Wales - up from 2.1m in 2019. There are two elements - a daily living component and a mobility component. Claimants may be eligible for one or both. The government now plans to tighten daily living assessments for future claimants - this will not affect those already receiving Pip, and the mobility element is not affected. It also announced changes to universal credit (UC), a payment made to people to help with their living costs. More than three million recipients of UC have no requirement to find work due to their health, a number that has risen sharply. If you have limited capacity to work because of a disability or long term condition, the UC payment you receive more than doubles, because of an extra top-up. Under the government's proposals, claimants will not be eligible to get this incapacity top-up until they are aged 22 or over. And new claimants will also see the value of this top-up fall. Update: Date: 14:32 BST Title: How we got here, in 99 words Content: Back in March, the government announced significant benefits changes, aimed at cutting welfare spending. But they proved unpopular with a large group within Labour, and faced criticism from opposition parties. As the first parliamentary hurdle drew nearer, so grew MPs' disquiet. Then last Thursday, after 126 Labour MPs threatened to vote down the proposals, the government confirmed major concessions, including: Today, the work and pensions secretary will share more details in the Commons, ahead of a vote on Tuesday. Update: Date: 14:29 BST Title: Government to outline welfare concessions ahead of key vote Content: Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will later this afternoon set out to Parliament the details of concessions the government has made to proposed welfare changes. Last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced into a U-turn over his planned benefits changes, after more than 120 Labour MPs threatened to vote down his plans. The deal with rebel MPs suggests the welfare reforms will only save £2bn a year, rather than the £5bn they were expected to save by 2030. Ministers are hoping the concessions will help limit the rebellion ahead of a key vote on the bill tomorrow - but dozens of Labour MPs are believed to still have misgivings, and could defy the government in Tuesday's vote. Stick with us as we follow Kendall's statement live - due at around 15:30 BST.
BBC News
40 minutes ago
- BBC News
North Yorkshire's first fixed speed camera installed
The first fixed-location speed camera in North Yorkshire has been installed and is ready to go-live on is located on the A64 in Sherburn, between Malton and Scarborough, as part of a three-month now, North Yorkshire Police has used mobile speed camera vans to patrol the county's road network, but these can only operate during daylight hours."We have real challenges around serious collisions and sadly, people killed on our roads. Speed is a high contributing factor to that," said Supt Mick Roffe, the force's head of specialist operations. "My message to those people who speed in this county routinely is: 'We will be here to catch you when you do speed and this technology will help us do that all times of day and night, and you're not going to always know where it is.'" Sherburn was chosen for the trial based on collision statistics and data from mobile speed camera Supt Roffe said the technology could be moved to different places to stop drivers learning the location of the camera."Do not speed wherever you are in the county, because this kit may be round the corner from you," he said. 'Speeding mindset' Gillian Taylor, who co-ordinates the Average and Fixed Speed Cameras for North Yorkshire campaign group, welcomed the announcement."To get this far is incredible and it feels great that we are actually being listened to and the authorities are taking this seriously," she Ms Taylor, who lives in Cowling, raised concerns about the "halo effect", where drivers slow down for a camera, then speed back up."It's great that it's being trialled, but I wonder how success is going to be measured when I look at our neighbouring counties that are rolling out average speed cameras to rural villages like we live in," she said. Ms Taylor said the historic lack of fixed or average speed cameras in North Yorkshire had resulted in a "speeding mindset" in the county."It's actually embarrassing that our neighbouring counties are taking proactive steps around average speed cameras and North Yorkshire wasn't doing it, but they're at least trialling one, and that's great." York and North Yorkshire's elected Labour mayor David Skaith said speeding along the stretch of the A64 was an "incredible problem"."Time and time again, people tell us that their roads don't feel safe so having cameras like this is going to help create safer communities, safer streets," he said. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
