UK Defence Minister John Healey suggested on Thursday that Russia may be influencing Iran’s drone strategy in its conflict with the United States and Israel, hinting that President Vladimir Putin’s “hidden hand” could be shaping Tehran’s battlefield tactics.
Healey said British officials are currently analysing the Iranian‑made drone that struck the UK’s Akrotiri air base in Cyprus on March 1 to determine whether it contains Russian or other foreign components.
“We will update you and appropriately publish any findings,” he told reporters during a visit to Britain’s military headquarters in Northwood.
He added that it would not be surprising if Moscow were involved:
“Putin is one world leader benefiting from sky‑high oil prices at the moment.”
Russia and Iran have deepened their military cooperation in recent years, agreeing in 2023 to counter “common threats.”
US Downplays Russian Role
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had no indication that Russia was supporting Iran in the war and even if it were, he said it was not “helping much.”
UK Military Sees Clear Signs of Iran-Russia Link
British military officials, however, say the connection is evident.
Nick Perry, the UK’s chief of joint operations, told Healey there were “definitively” signs of Russian influence, including Iran’s use of drone tactics “learned from the Russians.”
No one was injured when the drone hit a hangar at Akrotiri. British warplanes shot down two additional drones heading for the base the same day.
In Iraq, UK troops stationed at a coalition base in Irbil helped shoot down two more Iranian drones on Wednesday, according to Brigadier Guy Foden.
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