Iran makes chilling vow to kill 50,000 soldiers as British sites on high alert
Iran has vowed to kill as many as 50,000 American soldiers as British service personnel remain on high alert for a retaliatory attack after the devastating strikes at the country's military sites.
Tehran's mullahs have scrambled to assert that they remain a threat to the US and its allies in the Middle East and beyond after President Donald Trump followed Israel's lead by bombing three nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend. State television, which parrots the Islamic regime's talking points, showed a map of US bases across the Middle East with particular focus being paid to ones in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq, which are all in range of Iran's missiles.
Al Jazeera reports the channel's anchor Mehdi Khanalizadeh said: "It is now clearer than ever, not just for the Iranian nation but for the whole peoples of the region, that all US citizens and military personnel are legitimate targets.
"We were negotiating and progressing through a diplomatic path, but you chose to spill the blood of your soldiers. The US president in the Oval Office chose to take delivery of the coffins of up to 50,000 US soldiers in Washington."
The editor of Iran's hardline Keyhan newspaper also attempted to exert strength on behalf of the regime. He wrote: "It is now our turn to immediately rain missiles down on the US naval force in Bahrain as a first measure."
But American officials have been defiant, stating the bombings were a huge success that crippled Iran's nuclear programme. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Mr Trump for launching the attack that he said would "change history" and deny Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
British officials have been more cautious and warned that UK military sites were now on high alert. In a column for The Telegraph, Defence Secretary John Healey said: "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."
Senior defence officials are concerned Iran could use drones to wreak havoc at UK military sites following the success of Ukrainian operations against Russia. The Ukrainians previously used drones to cripple 40 Russian aircraft, including those capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously confirmed additional RAF jets would be deployed to the Middle East in a bid to enhance security at its bases. Britain has bases in the Middle East including RAF Akroiri, in Cyprus, where 14 RAF jets are currently stationed, as well as naval hubs in Bahrain and Oman.
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