RAF Typhoon jets in action over Bahrain

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Frank Gardner,BBC Security Correspondentand

Matt Spivey

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MINISTRY OF DEFENCE/EPA/Shutterstock

RAF Typhoon jets have been in action over Bahrain as part of the UK’s defensive operations in the Middle East, the BBC has been told.

Two jets out of the four sent to Qatar have been allocated specifically to help Bahrain intercept incoming drones, as the US-Israel war with Iran has entered its second week.

It comes as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper landed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday amid continued concern about Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz - a key artery for commercial shipping.

Bahraini officials said a total of 190 incoming drones and 114 missiles have been intercepted, primarily by its own air defences, since the conflict began.

They added that they still have an urgent need for Short Range Air Defence to counter drones.

The country’s airport fuel storage tanks were badly hit by an Iranian drone earlier this week.

Bahrain has reported the highest number of casualties of any Gulf nation from a single strike since the conflict began - when 23 civilians were reported injured, including four children, on 9 March.

Defence Secretary John Healey said on Thursday that the UK had clocked up more than 300 pilot flying hours over the previous 13 days.

Brigadier Guy Foden, a senior British Army officer, added that the UK had flown air combat patrols over Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to a “number of sorties” over Qatar.

RAF jets, alongside European allies, have also continued to fly in defence of Cyprus, after an Iranian-made drone struck the runway at the RAF Akrotiri base on 1 March.

British warship HMS Dragon departed the UK for the eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday - its primary role will be to protect the base.

Royal Air Force