<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/uk" rel="" target="" title="British"><span>British</span></a><span> and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/norway" rel="" target="" title="Norwegian"><span>Norwegian</span></a><span> militaries led a weekslong operation to deter </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/russia" rel="" target="" title="Russian"><span>Russian</span></a><span> submarines suspected of "malign activity" in the North Atlantic, the UK </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/military" rel="" target="" title="military"><span>military</span></a><span> said on Thursday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Defence Secretary John Healey said a frigate, planes and hundreds of personnel monitored a Russian attack sub and two spy submarines near undersea infrastructure north of the UK. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the Russian vessels eventually left after the operation that lasted more than a month.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-suggest-sea-mines-in-strait-of-hormuz/4b3004f8-ece3-47a0-a59b-78ca47b276db"><strong><span>'Take alternative routes': Iran warns ships of sea mines in Strait of Hormuz</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Healey said his message to Russia was "we see your activity over our cables and our pipelines and you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Representatives of Norway's defence and foreign ministries, as well as the armed forces, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>British officials have tried to keep Russia in the international spotlight even as the world's attention is focused on conflict in the Middle East. They have also stressed the overlap between conflicts there and in Ukraine, saying Russia has supplied Iran with drone parts and other support.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/uk-and-norway-led-a-military-operation-to-deter-russian-submarines-in-the-north-atlantic/1a6b9d07-9a4b-43f9-a2b3-4165db57670a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Healey told a news conference that "Putin would want us to be distracted by the Middle East," but Russia is the main threat to the UK and its allies.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We will not take our eyes off Putin," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In late March, the UK said its military was ready to seize ships suspected to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" of vessels shipping oil in violation of international sanctions over Moscow's war on Ukraine. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Previously, Britain had only helped France and the US monitor ships before they were boarded.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are ready to take action" against the vessels, Healey said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>