Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the UK will allow the United States to use British military bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites. In a recorded statement on Sunday evening, Starmer said Iran's approach was becoming more reckless and putting British lives at risk, leading to the decision to permit the use of two bases.
Within hours of the statement, the UK's Akrotiri air force base in Cyprus was hit by a suspected drone, causing only minor damage and no casualties. The government released a summary of its legal position, stating that the UK is acting in the collective self-defence of regional allies who have requested support.
Starmer revealed that 200,000 British people are in Middle Eastern countries being targeted by Iran. He said: 'The only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source in their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles.' He added that British jets were in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations that had already successfully intercepted Iranian strikes.
The decision has sparked controversy, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey demanding a parliamentary vote, saying: 'No matter how the prime minister tries to redefine offensive as defensive, this is a slippery slope.' Green Party leader Zack Polanski called the US action an 'illegal and unprovoked attack'. However, Starmer faced pressure from Conservatives and Reform UK to offer more support to US President Donald Trump.
Defence Secretary John Healey declined to condemn the US strikes, which reportedly killed about 48 Iranian leaders, saying: 'I think few people will mourn the ayatollah's death.' The UK government has not stated whether it supports the US military action or deemed it lawful.
