World

UK pledges warship and fighter jets for Hormuz mission

The United Kingdom announced it would contribute a large arsenal of military equipment to the multinational mission aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz.

In a government statement, Britain said the deployment would include drones, Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, an autonomous mine-hunting system and the warship HMS Dragon.

The statement added that the operation would also receive 115 million pounds ($156m) in new funding for mine-hunting drones and counter-drone systems.

British Defence Secretary John Healey announced the commitment during a virtual meeting involving defence ministers and officials from more than 40 countries participating in the mission, which he said would become operational when conditions permitted.

Britain already has more than 1,000 military personnel deployed in the region as part of existing defensive operations.