Al-Mahra 

One of the largest British newspapers revealed today afternoon that dozens of British Special Forces soldiers arrived in Mahra Governorate, South Yemen, last night, with the aim "to hunt down terrorists behind the drone attack which killed a British security guard on a tanker in the Gulf."

The British newspaper "Daily Express" stated that "it is believed that Iranian-backed Houthi rebels carried out the ­atrocity at the behest of Tehran".

General Sir Nick Carter, head of Britain’s Armed Forces, has called for Western retaliation for the attack which killed Adrian Underwood, a former British soldier working for UK firm Ambrey to provide ­security for the vessel, and its Romanian captain. " What we need to be doing is calling out Iran for its very reckless behavior," he said.

The British newspaper said that "a 40-strong team of SAS ­soldiers arrived in eastern Yemen yesterday."

According to the newspaper, the soldiers landed at Al-Ghaydah Airport in Mahra Governorate, and used local handlers, subsidised by the Foreign Office, who have know­ledge of the region to help hunt the Houthi mercenaries responsible.

"The team also includes a specialist electronic warfare unit which can deploy resources to hoover up communications chatter," according to the newspaper.

"It is feared that Tehran has supplied the militants with long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), to threaten international ­merchant vessels in some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes," said the Daily Express.

British message to Iran

The newspaper said that US-Israeli intelligence believed that the drone was launched from eastern Yemen and directed by GPS towards the tanker before one of the operators controlled the finale mile, directing the rocket via camera into the ship’s bridge.

The attack took place on July 30, about 152 nautical miles northeast of the Omani port of Duqm.

Two died when Mercer Street was hit in the attack (Image: Getty)

The newspaper said that a special forces team is operating with a US special operations force which was already in the region and is helping to train an elite Saudi commando unit.

The UK, US, and Israel have condemned Iran for the attack on MV Mercer Street, though the Islamic regime denies involvement. Operated by London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli ­billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group, the vessel was heading from Tanzania to UAE.

By sending this British force to eastern South Yemen, "the UK mission will send a clear message to Iran that the UK will not tolerate such attacks in international waters" the newspaper said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who said he was in constant contact with British counterpart Dominic Raab, said he “noted to him the need to respond severely”.

"Everything points to the drone being launched from Yemen. The concern now is that an extended range drone will give them a new capability," the newspaper quoted a senior UK military source as said last night. 

South24 Center for News and Studies (for the full Daily Express report)

Photo: British soldiers, AFP/Getty