‘Hidden hand of Putin’ and ‘oil war’ – what the UK newspapers saypublished at 03:30 GMT
03:30 GMT
Harry Sekulich
Reporting from Sydney
The Friday morning copies of the UK papers lead with Iran’s attacks on British troops at Iraqi airbases.
“Brit base blitzed by Iran”, reads the Sun’s front page, describing Tehran’s drone strikes on Baghdad and Erbil. “Under fire” is the Daily Mirror’s take as the Independent writes “Iran targets our troops”, noting no British troops were injured.
The UK government has also “set sights on vital Strait of Hormuz”, the Independent says, writing that Iran’s efforts to block the shipping lane “has severely disrupted the supply line of crude oil, raising fears about global energy prices as the cost of heating oil in Britain more than doubled in the past week”.
The papers’ Middle East coverage also focuses on new accusations that Moscow is helping Tehran’s military tactics. “Russia behind attack on UK troops” is the Daily Telegraph’s headline.
Defence Secretary John Heley’s “Hidden hand of Putin” quote features on the front page of the Times and the Guardian. Iranian drone pilots are “using methods learned on Ukraine battlefield”, the Guardian writes, adding Russian President Vladimir Putin also “benefits from oil price rises to fund war with Kyiv”.
The Financial Times estimates “oil windfall gives Russia $150m [£112.3m] a day”, declaring Moscow “the biggest winner from the conflict in the Middle East”.