Jonathan Beale

Update on UK operations in the Middle East, 20 March 2026.

I spoke with multiple officials about plans to secure the Strait just yesterday. They all cautioned me it would be a risky and difficult task. While heavily degraded, Iran still retains some ability to fire ballistic missiles, one official said, and mines and drones can cause a lot of damage.

Disrupting, deterring and degrading Russia’s shadow fleet - and starving Putin’s war machine of funds - is a priority for this government and we will continue to take action alongside our allies.  (1/2)

Apparently the two arrested after attempting to enter the Faslane sumbmarine base in Scotland turned up at the gate in a vehicle and asked if they could have a look around. Turned away after being told no .

U.S. forces continue to degrade Iranian combat capabilities by striking military targets deep inside Iran.

Just weeks after her promotion, Lance Corporal McCauley found herself working alongside @armeedeTerre sharing tactics, knowledge and improving the joint operational effectiveness of the two allies 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 Read more ⬇️ bit.ly/47NPynR

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has just given more details on attacks in #IranWar‌ Aircraft, he said, were penetrating deeper into Iranian airspace and A-10 'Warthogs' - specialist air-to-ground attack planes - were now striking fast-attack water craft operating in the Strait of Hormuz, on the southern flank of Iran. These A-10s are armed with a variety of missiles, including AGM-65 Maverick infra-red / optical munitions. But the aircraft are also known for their feared, front-mounted 30mm GUA-8/A seven barrel Gatling gun, capable of firing 4,000 rounds a minute on soft targets and hardened ones, including tanks. USAF file pic of A-10

“So much for Britain’s ambitions for its defence capabilities. What followed, however, was prevarication.” Interesting read ( though getting rid of nuclear deterrent is clearly not “an option” being considered

🇬🇧 and 🇺🇸 military working together on options to open up Strait of Hormuz -with small number of additional U.K. planners recently sent to ⁦@CENTCOM⁩

Important discussions with E5 Defence Ministers today on the Strait of Hormuz and developments in the Middle East. We are working with allies to reinforce regional security and protect British interests.

No shortages of GBU-31 2,000lb JDAM bunker busters at RAF Fairford. Some more pictures from yesterday. Many appeared to be loaded on or around B-52s from what I saw - with the B1-bs positioned further away from my viewing point. No idea what the Bones were loaded up with. All this at the US confirmed the use of 5,000lb munitions on buried targets in #IranWar‌ : #post" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">bbc.co.uk/news/live/c24d…

Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait.

Most convincing argument I've read recently that the Pentagon knows what it's doing, from ... Al Jazeera aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/…

Lot of bluffery from Perm Sec at MOD on release of Defence Investment Plan which was supposed to be out last Autumn …we’re working flat out etc…No date

In the last month alone, the UK has delivered to Ukraine: ✅ 3,500 drones ✅ 18,000 artillery rounds ✅ 3 million rounds of small ammunition With conflicts on two continents, the UK's commitment to Ukraine remains steadfast. 🇬🇧🤝🇺🇦 @johnhealey_mp's full statement 👇

On Tuesday 17 March @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte will travel to the United Kingdom   He will meet 🇬🇧 Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer and 🇺🇦 President @ZelenskyyUa. He will also take part in an event at the Houses of Parliament   bit.ly/4bxZi72

Those in peril on the sea Iran has learned from Ukraine how to trap Western navies in an impossible choice. Deploy a billion-pound warship and risk losing it — broadcast live to the world — to a swarm of cheap drones. Or stay home and be accused of weakness. Either way, the West loses. Peter Spayne @PolicyBrief_UK explains why this dilemma is by design. policybrief.org/briefs/those-i…

On the Strait of Hormuz conundrum, the 1987 tanker war is illustrative. The US had 28 ships in the region, France 15 inc an aircraft carrier, the UK 9 plus random Italian, Dutch and Belgium escorts. Despite these large numbers, escorting ships was ineffective. Attacks went up in the SOH after the operation started. And since 1987 politicians have become much more risk adverse and naval platforms scarcer.

We have an important new analysis of munitions used in the first 96 hours of the war with Iran out at the @FPRI (Foreign Policy Research Institute). In the first 96 hours, the US-led coalition expended approximately 5,197 munitions across 35 types. This carries a munitions-only replacement bill of $10–$16 billion. fpri.org/article/2026/0…