New UK sanctions target Iranian drone industry

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Thursday announced new sanctions targeting Iran's military drone industry, in response to Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel earlier this month.

The measures, taken in co-ordination with the U.S. and Canada, target four businesses and two directors at a network of drone companies with the aim of limiting Iran's ability to launch drones.

"The Iranian regime's dangerous attack on Israel risked thousands of civilian casualties and wider escalation in the region," British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement.

"Today the UK and our partners have sent a clear message – we will hold those responsible for Iran's destabilising behaviour to account."

Britain also said it would introduce new bans on the export of drone and missile components to Iran, seeking to limit its military capabilities.

Last week, Britain imposed sanctions on Iranian military figures and organisations, in another coordinated move with the United States, following Iran's action against Israel.

Iran launched drones and fired missiles at Israel on April 13 as a retaliatory strike for the attack on its embassy compound in Damascus two weeks prior, raising the risk of further escalation in conflict in the Middle East.

(Reporting by William James, writing by Sachin Ravikumar)

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