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The UK has consented to a US request allowing American forces to operate from British military bases for targeted defensive strikes aimed at Iranian missile installations, according to statements made by Sir Keir Starmer. However, the prime minister emphasized that the UK has drawn lessons from the errors made during the Iraq conflict and clarified that Britain was not involved in the initial offensive actions against Iran and will not participate in any further offensive operations.
According to Sir Keir, the decision to permit the use of UK bases was founded on principles of “collective self-defense” to safeguard allied nations and British citizens. He accused Iran of engaging in a “scorched-earth strategy,” putting lives at risk. The BBC reports that the US is expected to utilize RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the Diego Garcia base located in the Indian Ocean to conduct these missile strikes.
In a video address delivered on Sunday, Sir Keir explained that the US would employ UK bases solely for a “specific and limited defensive purpose,” namely the destruction of Iranian missiles “at source.” He underlined that this action complies with international law, with the UK government releasing a summarized version of its legal advice to support this position.
Despite earlier reports indicating that the British government had not granted permission for such use of its bases, US President Donald Trump suggested that RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia might be necessary for operations if Iran refuses to reach a deal. Historically, both bases have supported long-range heavy bombing missions by the US. Meanwhile, the US and Israel commenced attacks on Iran early Saturday, with Trump urging the Iranian population to overthrow their government. In response, Iran has targeted US facilities and allied countries hosting American forces, including Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq.
Sir Keir also mentioned that UK aircraft are conducting defensive operations in the Middle East to protect allies and British nationals but reiterated the UK’s non-involvement in the strikes themselves. On Sunday, he confirmed that British aircraft had successfully intercepted Iranian attacks. He stressed that UK partners in the Gulf have requested increased defensive support, and it is the UK’s obligation to protect its citizens.
With approximately 200,000 British nationals present in the region—ranging from residents to tourists and transiting passengers—the government pledges continued support for those individuals. Sir Keir warned that British citizens, including servicemen and women, as well as allied personnel, are facing significant risks due to Iran’s increasingly reckless behavior. He reported that Iranian strikes have impacted airports and hotels accommodating British people and narrowly missed British personnel stationed at a military base in Bahrain.
The prime minister articulated that the only effective means to neutralize the threat is to destroy Iran’s missiles at their storage or launch sites. The US requested permission to use UK bases specifically for this defensive purpose, which the UK government has accepted to prevent Iranian missile attacks from endangering innocent civilians and British lives, as well as hitting uninvolved countries. According to Sir Keir, this approach is the best way to counter the urgent threat and avoid further escalation.
While the UK government has not explicitly expressed support or legal endorsement of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Sir Keir noted that it is the US’s responsibility to clarify the legal grounds of its actions. Although the UK did not participate in the strikes, it shares the goal of all regional allies and the United States in ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. The UK government released a statement summarizing its legal position, stating that under international law, the use or support of force is permissible in self-defense when facing an ongoing armed attack, provided the force is necessary and proportionate.
Furthermore, the UK, along with France and Germany, issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s strikes as “indiscriminate and disproportionate.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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