UK plans Typhoon patrols over Hormuz after Iran war

Britain is preparing contingency plans to deploy a squadron of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft currently based in Qatar to patrol the Strait of Hormuz as part of a multinational mission aimed at safeguarding the strategic waterway once the war with Iran ends, as per report by The Guardian.

The proposal was central to discussions among military planners from around 30 countries during a two-day meeting held at the UK’s Northwood headquarters, organised jointly with France.

Eight Typhoon jets are already stationed in Qatar, and several were previously involved in intercepting Shahed drones during the 38-day conflict in the Middle East that followed the US-Israel strike on Iran.

In addition to air patrols, the UK military has offered to deploy mine-hunting drones and specialist diving teams to help clear naval mines laid by Iran in the strait. However, no final decision has been taken on whether to deploy a Royal Navy warship, such as HMS Dragon, or another vessel to support the mission.

Representatives from countries including Germany, Norway, South Korea, and Australia attended the meeting, which concluded on Thursday. British officials declined to confirm whether the United States participated, although they emphasised that Washington had been kept informed of the discussions.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey attended part of the meeting, instructing military planners to develop “practical military options” and a “coordinated joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the strait,” according to a joint statement issued with his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin.

Despite the planning efforts, the status of any multinational mission remains uncertain. US President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals, at times urging allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and at other moments suggesting that the United States could act independently.

The UK and its partners have made clear they will not take part in military operations to forcibly reopen the strait while hostilities with Iran continue. However, both the UK and France have indicated they would be prepared to act in the event of a peace agreement or a sustained ceasefire, with the aim of protecting oil tankers and commercial shipping under what is expected to be a lower-threat environment.

The discussions come amid scrutiny of the Royal Navy’s operational readiness and available fleet. Concerns intensified after the British airbase at Akrotiri in Cyprus was struck by a drone early in the conflict, and as delays were noted in deploying naval assets. HMS Dragon only arrived in the region three weeks later after being brought out of dry dock, several days after France and other countries had already deployed warships to the eastern Mediterranean.

By Tamilla Hasanova