The British army in the Middle East is on high alert following the heightening of tensions over the killing of Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander, the Guardian newspaper has reported.
Speaking in Parliament, the British Defence secretary Ben Wallace revealed that all military hardware, including helicopters and tanks, stationed in the Middle East were on stand by just in case they need to use them arose.
Wallace assured the inquisitive parliamentarians that Britain would respond appropriately in the event that a Briton was targeted by Iran.
"If British civilians were killed or even military personnel as a result of Iranian or terrorist action, we would look at the response. The response would no doubt be proportionate,” said Wallace as quoted by the Guardian newspaper.
"As part of prudent planning, a small team has been sent to the region to provide additional situational awareness and contingency planning assistance," he added as quoted by the Telegraph newspaper.
Tensions have ratcheted up significantly in the aftermath of Soleimani as the Iranians vow to retaliate severely.
There are fears that the Islamic Republic of Iran may attack Western military bases in the region.
The focus of troops in those bases has now shifted to protecting themselves from an attack in the fallout from the assassination of Soleimani.