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SAS commandos have been sent to the Gulf amid fears Iran will launch a proxy attack on a Royal navy base in the Middle East.



The team of SAS counter-terror operatives have been flown into Bahrain in a top secret operation, reports the Sunday Express.

Commandos have been tasked with beefing up the security of the British naval base at Mina Salman Port.

British intelligence reportedly warns that terrorist process have identified the Royal Navy base and the UK’s embassy as targets in Bahrain.



Iran is known to use proxy forces to covertly carry out attack on its enemies.

It comes as the Middle East sits on the brink as the US points the finger at Iran over a massive attack on oil fields in Saudi Arabia.



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Military assets are currently flooding the Gulf under proviso of defence.

Thousands of US soldiers have been shipped to both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

US President Donald Trump has talked down conflict, but reminded Iran he could within moments launch a strike them.



“I could do it right here,” he said, speaking from the Oval Office.

He previously said his military was “locked and loaded” in a direct threat to Iran.

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Tensions have been rising in the Gulf since the US axed the so-called nuclear deal.

It traded a pledge to not develop nukes for an easing of sanctions on Tehran.

Iran has been accused of masterminding a series of proxy attacks throughout the Middle East, including on tankers and on the oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.



The attacks knocked out 5.7 million barrels of daily oil production for Saudi Arabia, or more than 5% of the world's daily crude production.

Tehran has denied being behind the bombing, but the US have directly pointed the finger as Saudi Arabia suggested they supplied the weapons.

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Sources have claimed has urged the UK to join military action in Iran that could herald the start of a third Gulf War.

And reportedly US intelligence chiefs have shown British spies "compelling evidence" that the Iranians were behind the attack on Saudi Arabia.



Prime Minister Boris Johnson is understood to be considering various options but is wary of the UK being dragged into a third Gulf War.

British defence chiefs are now drawing up contingency plans to see what support they could provide in the event of an intervention by the US.

It is believed the Ministry of Defence are considering offering support aircraft such as spy-planes and fuel tankers to aid the US.



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"The US is trying to build a coalition of support to take some form of action against Iran,” a source told the Daily Star Sunday.



“The UK is the US's closest ally so not surprisingly we have been asked for our view.

"But we have been down this road before where the US produced intelligence prior to the invasion of Iraq only for the intelligence to be proved wrong.

"But this time it looks as if they have the Iranians bang to rights.

"The US has a wealth of intelligence and it all points to Iran. Every time the West refuses to act against Iranian aggression the ayatollahs become even more bold. They are now convinced the US will never attack them."

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Iran has warned it will destroy any aggressor as the region sits on a knife edge.



Foreign minister Javad Zarif said: “I’m not confident that we can avoid a war.

"I’m confident we will not start one, but I’m confident that whoever starts one will not be the one who finishes it.”

And the head of Iran’s elite Republican Guards said on state TV that “limited aggression will not remain limited”.

Major General Hossein Salami said: “We are after punishment and we will continue until the full destruction of any aggressor.”