British military bases in the Middle East have been placed on maximum alert after Sunday morning's American bombing raids on Iran.
Personnel at British bases have been warned to prepare for possible drone attacks, alongside threats from conventional rockets and missiles.
Defence Secretary John Healey has confirmed that UK Armed Forces protection measures are operating at their "highest level" as concerns mount over potential escalation into a broader regional conflict.
"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," he said on Sunday.
PICTURED: Defence Secretary John Healey at RAF Akrotiri. Healey vowed on Sunday that 'the safety of UK personnel and bases is my top priority'
PA
RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus now hosts 14 RAF jets, while naval facilities in Bahrain and Oman, along with shared airbases in Qatar and the UAE, have all put enhanced security protocols in place.
Protective measures being considered include deploying additional patrol guards, arming more base personnel with live ammunition, and installing extra radar systems.
While no specific imminent attack is said to be anticipated, the alert's status covers a wide spectrum of potential threats ranging from rocket attacks to improvised explosive devices.
Military commanders are particularly alarmed by the potential deployment of Iranian drone swarms, following Ukrainian attacks that successfully damaged 40 Russian warplanes, including nuclear-capable aircraft, at multiple bases across Russia.
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Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones (pictured) which have inflicted severe damage in Ukraine
More guards, more ammunition and more radar have been put in place across Britain's bases
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In turn, Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones which have inflicted severe damage in Ukraine, causing power outages and destroying critical infrastructure.
The Shahed-136 model carries explosive charges initially designed for demolishing buildings, but are now modified with fragmentation or thermobaric warheads to maximise casualties.
Tehran has already demonstrated its willingness to deploy the Shahed "loitering" drones, launching similar strikes against Israeli targets in recent weeks.
The alert follows Saturday's news that a British man was arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of conducting espionage at an RAF base for Iran.
The warnings follow pro-Palestine protesters penetrating security at RAF Brize Norton
PALESTINE ACTION
And just one day earlier, two pro-Palestine protesters penetrated security at RAF Brize Norton and damaged two aircraft.
The base's perimeter includes a section protected only by a six-foot wooden fence extending along the runway's edge.
Following the Brize Norton breach, Downing Street announced it was "reviewing security across the whole defence estate", while a recent defence review had already identified Brize Norton as a "high priority for investment and improvement".
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