A swarm of Iranian drones attacked a joint Special Forces base in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, on Wednesday night.
Brigadier Guy Foden, a commander at Britain’s Permanent Joint Headquarters, who confirmed the attack, also said that British personnel are in Erbil assisting with the base’s defense.
“We have personnel in Erbil who are currently helping with the defence of that base.
“Last night they shot down two UAVs coming at the camp, but a number of UAVs did impact on the camp”, Foden said in a statement.
American soldiers were injured in the attack but the British suffered no casualties, according to The Sun.
Lt Gen Nick Perry, the commander of UK global operations, confirmed the US casualties were not life-threatening.
He told Defence Secretary John Healey at a briefing: “All our people remain safe, touch wood, but the Americans took some casualties last night, but nothing too serious.”
This comes as the defence secretary said Vladimir Putin’s ‘hidden hands’ may be behind some of Iran’s tactics in the Middle East.
Erbil, a city with a rich history dating back thousands of years, is known for its ancient citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and vibrant culture.
The attack highlights the ongoing security concerns in the region.
