David Lammy Insists UK Strikes on Iranian Missile Sites Would Be Legal
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has asserted that UK forces carrying out strikes on Iranian missile sites would be entirely legal, intensifying speculation about potential RAF involvement in US-Israeli military operations. This statement comes despite the government initially barring the use of UK bases for such actions.
Legal Justification for Military Action
Mr Lammy emphasised that protecting British personnel and staff justifies the use of all operational capabilities. He told BBC Breakfast, 'It is entirely legal to protect our people and protect our staff, and therefore all operational capability is available to us in those circumstances.' He further clarified that the UK possesses the satellite and intelligence resources necessary to identify Iranian targets accurately.
When questioned about the legality of pre-emptive strikes on Iranian bases to prevent attacks, Lammy responded, 'It is my understanding that that would be legal.' This position aligns with Defence Secretary John Healey's earlier refusal to rule out direct attacks, stating the government is prepared to 'adapt' to evolving ground circumstances.
Political Pressure and International Context
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly ruled out joining 'offensive' military actions, despite facing criticism from former US President Donald Trump, who dismissed him as 'no Churchill.' However, the UK is already permitting the US to utilise British bases for 'defensive' strikes against Iranian missile facilities. Allies have been pressuring Sir Keir to adopt a more active role in the conflict.
Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch voiced support for RAF jets targeting Iranian missile launch sites, arguing on BBC Breakfast, 'That is the right thing to do. Otherwise, we are allowing our service personnel to be put in danger.' She warned that waiting for attacks could be disastrous, especially in potential nuclear scenarios, and criticised the government for appearing hesitant.
Operational Challenges and Criticisms
The UK has faced significant criticism from allies over its perceived 'weak' response to the crisis. Critics argue the nation has been 'humiliated' by failures to protect the crucial RAF Akrotiri base on Cyprus, which has been targeted by Iranian drones. Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to deploy to the eastern Mediterranean until next week, leaving the UK reliant on French, Spanish, and Greek vessels for cover.
When asked if he felt embarrassed by this situation, Mr Lammy told Sky News, 'Absolutely not… we have F-35s, Typhoons in the sky taking down missiles as we speak and that has happened over Jordan, it's happened over Qatar and of course, we will support nationals in the region.' He highlighted coordination with allies, including France and Germany, and mistakenly referred to Cyprus as a NATO ally, despite it not being a member.
Future Military Deployments
Lammy confirmed that HMS Dragon will arrive in the region in the coming weeks to bolster air defences. He stated, 'Cyprus is a Nato ally, so we co-ordinate also with other teams and other close allies on how we equip the area.' This comment, however, contained an error as Cyprus is not part of NATO.
Kemi Badenoch added, 'If this was a nuclear attack, God forbid, it would be too late. You can't always wait for people to attack you. Sometimes you have to make sure that you get there first to stop their ability to hurt your citizens.' She expressed a desire for de-escalation but stressed, 'We are in this war whether we like it or not because we have put bases in other people's countries and we need to protect them.'
