British forces were in the coalition military bases in Iraq that were hit by Iranian missiles overnight, UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab has confirmed.
Iran fired about 15 missiles from within its territory at the Ayn al Asad air base and another facility in Erbil at 1.30am local time (10.30pm UK time).
Both bases host coalition forces, including forces from the UK, although the Ministry of Defence in London subsequently said there have been no British casualties.
Mr Raab urged Iran to pursue "urgent de-escalation" as the crisis in the Gulf intensified rather than carry out what he labelled as "reckless and dangerous attacks".
US President Donald Trump tweeted "all is well" following the attack on the bases, which was carried out in response to the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by America.
US officials said 15 missiles were fired, with 10 striking the Ayn al Asad base 100 miles west of Baghdad, one striking a base in Erbil in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and another four missing their targets.
American authorities said casualties were "few, if any".
A Ukrainian passenger plane also crashed shortly after take-off from the Iranian capital of Tehran, killing all 176 people onboard, in the early hours of Wednesday. There was nothing initially to indicate that the crash was linked to the current Iran-US tensions.
The attacks came following the funeral procession of Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike in Iraq on January 3.
Mr Raab said: "We condemn this attack on Iraqi military bases hosting Coalition - including British - forces.
"We are concerned by reports of casualties and use of ballistic missiles.
"We urge Iran not to repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks, and instead to pursue urgent de-escalation.
"A war in the Middle East would only benefit Daesh and other terrorist groups."
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace yesterday said that the Royal Navy and military helicopters had been put on standby due to the rising tensions in the area.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi has said the current crisis risks a "devastating all-out war" in Iraq, the region, and the world.
Iranian officials said Tehran did not want a war and its strikes "concluded" its response to Friday's killing of General Soleimani, a powerful general whose burial in Iran after days of mourning was completed around the same time as Iran's missile launches.
Iranian state television showed mourners celebrating the attack.
Mr Trump, who visited the Ayn al Asad base (which is also known as Ain Assad), said in his tweet he would make a statement on Wednesday morning US time.
Ayatollah Khamenei has made an address on state TV that Iran had "slapped them [America] on the face last night" with the missile strike.
He added that "military action is not enough" as he praised General Soleimani.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the real revenge for the killing of a top Iranian general by the US would be "to force America out of this region."
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life in the plane crash in Iran overnight.
"We are urgently seeking confirmation about how many British nationals were on board and will do all we can to support any families affected.
