The head of Britain's armed forces has rejected criticism that the military was ill-prepared for conflict with Iran, describing the current period as 'probably the most dangerous' in decades. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff, dismissed claims that the UK was slow to respond after a drone struck a British base on Cyprus.
Sir Richard stated that HMS Dragon, the warship being readied for deployment to the region, was in routine maintenance until this week and is expected to depart within days. He rejected suggestions that military cuts had delayed the response, emphasising that the ship's maintenance was routine and that planners had been preparing for such a crisis 'over many years'.
The Chief of the Defence Staff also signalled that the UK could join more proactive strikes in future, following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's permission for 'defensive' US action from British bases. He stressed that the current mission is to protect UK and regional interests, but added that 'these campaigns and conflicts evolve over time, and we will keep all options under review.'
Sir Richard confirmed that an American bomber capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, with missions expected to be launched from there within days. He defended the UK's posture, saying it had been built up over several weeks, and rejected claims that the military was caught off guard by Iran's broader and more reckless actions.
