Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that the United States will be allowed to use British military bases for operations against Iran, but stressed that the UK will not participate in offensive strikes. In a statement to Parliament on Monday, Starmer said the UK would focus on defensive actions to protect British interests and lives in the region.
The decision came after a drone strike hit the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus overnight. A Ministry of Defence assessment found that the strike occurred before Starmer's announcement, contrary to initial reports. Two more unmanned drones were shot down heading toward the base later on Monday.
Starmer faced criticism from both the left and right for initially refusing to allow US use of British bases, then reversing the decision. Former US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment, but Starmer defended his actions, stating, "It is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest."
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected claims that the UK is being dragged into an Iraq-style conflict, calling them "simply not true." She highlighted that an estimated 300,000 British citizens in Gulf countries are at risk from Iranian missiles and drones. The government is working with airlines and local authorities to support Britons unable to return due to closed airspace.
Defence Secretary John Healey announced that families at RAF Akrotiri would be moved to temporary accommodations as a precaution. Greece has committed to sending two frigates and two F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus to bolster defences. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the joint US-Israeli strikes as the "most lethal and precise air power campaign in history," but did not provide a timeline for the operation.
