A leading expert has warned that the likelihood of terror attacks striking the UK could increase if the conflict in the Middle East continues to intensify.
Following Iran’s attack on Israel in the early hours of Sunday morning, there has been an escalation in tensions between nations in the east and west.
As a result, there is growing concern about what this could mean for domestic security in the UK after RAF jets helped Israel intercept drones and missiles sent over by Iran.
One expert says that if the conflict in the Middle East worsens this could impact the security not just of Israeli, but British citizens as well.
Speaking to the Mirror, the Henry Jackson Society’s Dr Alan Mendoza warned that Iran’s strikes, which followed Israel’s strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, could have consequences around the world.
He explained: “In that worst-case scenario of a war between Israel and Iran, we already know that Iran operates on the ground in the UK.
“We’ve seen attacks, for example, on Iranian journalists exiled in the UK. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Iran will seek to launch terror attacks within the UK in such an eventuality.”
Dr Mendoza warned that one of the main dangers for Israel and Iran is if they “accidentally, if you like, stumble into a war” because the “reprisals get more and more extreme”.
Dr Mendoza added that eventually, this could lead to “a state of ‘proper’ war between the two” and that over time attacks would become “larger and larger”.
Following this attack, Dr Mendoza said that Iran would sit back as “it’s done what it needs to do, for its at-home credibility”.
Although some believe that Iran may step back and not engage with Israel further militarily, the attack has drawn condemnation from around the world, particularly Israel’s allies the UK and USA.
During the bombardment, both countries stepped in to help intercept the drones and missiles being fired at Israel.
In a statement earlier today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak revealed that some RAF jets had taken out several Iranian drones but did not say how many.
Mr Sunak added that he would be speaking to other leaders from the G7 to try and “de-escalate the situation” to prevent further conflict.
