 |
| Starmer confirms UK to allow US to use British bases for 'limited defensive purpose' (Image: BBC) |
The UK has agreed to a US request to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
However, the prime minister stated that the United Kingdom had acquired lessons from the "mistakes of Iraq," that it had not participated in the initial strikes against Iran, and that it "will not join offensive action now." According to information provided by the BBC, the United States is likely to strike Iranian missile sites from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The Prime Minister made the announcement, which, according to the Telegraph, "took far too long," just hours before a British RAF base in Cyprus was struck by a drone on Sunday night without any reported casualties.
Read More: Starmer seeks to carve out distinct UK approach to this conflict
Investigations are under way to establish where it was fired from.
The attack on Cyprus' RAF Akrotiri occurred around midnight local time (22:00 GMT), and the Ministry of Defense later stated that "minimal damage" was caused. Sir Keir said in a video statement earlier on Sunday that the decision to accept the US request was based on the "collective self-defence" of allies and the protection of British lives. He also said that Iran was using a "scorched-earth strategy." The prime minister went on to say that the United States would use UK bases to destroy Iran's missiles "at source" for the "specific and limited defensive purpose." He went on to say that the move was legal under international law and that the UK government had published what it claimed was a summary of its legal advice. Trump, in an interview with the Telegraph, said of the delay in accepting the US request: "That's probably never happened between our countries before."
He added on Sir Keir: "It sounds like he was worried about the legality."
Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservatives, said that some Labour voters were "swayed by conflicts in the Middle East, not the British national interest" and that the government was "too scared" to take a stronger stance against Iran. "So we watch our prime minister and cabinet ministers squirm and obfuscate in interviews, because they cannot say what needs to be said because too many of their voters do not want to hear it."
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said that "the UK must not be complicit in illegal military action" and that MPs should have a say in whether the US can use British bases. Last month, it was said that the British government had not allowed the United States to use British military bases to support any possible US strikes on Iran. If Iran "decides not to make a deal," Trump said, "may be necessary" for the US to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for operations. The United States has previously carried out long-range heavy bombing missions from both of these bases. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the decision to let the US use UK military bases was "better late than never" and described Sir Keir as "a follower, not a leader".
Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party, criticized the act, stating that Sir Keir had entered "yet another Middle East illegal war." Keep up with the latest developments in the Middle East conflict. Early on Saturday, the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran, and Trump urged the Iranian people to overthrow the government. The Iranian regime has responded with attacks on US assets and countries in the region with a US military presence, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq.
Sir Keir had stated that British aircraft were "in the sky" in the Middle East as part of a defensive operation to safeguard the country's allies and residents, but that the UK "played no role" in the strikes. On Sunday, he said British aircraft had successfully intercepted Iranian strikes, but added: "Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them and it's my duty to protect British lives."
He began the statement by stating that the UK is "not involved in the strikes on Iran" "remains the case." Sir Keir stated that the government "will continue to do all we can to support" at least 200,000 British citizens in the region, including residents, vacationers, and passengers in transit. He stated that Iranian strikes were putting British citizens, including members of the armed forces and allies, at "huge risk," and that the regime was "becoming even more reckless." Sir Keir stated that Iranian strikes have "hit hotels and airports where British citizens are staying" and "hit a military base in Bahrain, narrowly missing British personnel" on Saturday. He added: "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.
"The United States has asked for permission to use British bases for that limited and specific defensive purpose. "We have taken the decision to accept this request in order to prevent Iran from firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives in danger, and hitting countries that have not been involved," the statement reads. British citizens living in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, the Palestinian territories, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are being asked to sign up for updates by the Foreign Office.
"Best way to eliminate the urgent threat and prevent the situation from spiraling further," said Sir Keir. The British government hasn't said for sure if it supports the US-Israeli strikes on Iran or thinks they're legal. On Sunday morning, the BBC repeatedly pressed Defense Secretary John Healey regarding the matter. Even though the UK did not take part in the strikes, he stated that "we share, however, the primary aim of all allies in the region and the US that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon." He also stated that it was the responsibility of the United States to establish the legal basis for its actions. In what it described as a summary of its own legal position for allowing the US to use its bases, the UK government said in a statement released late on Sunday: "The UK and its allies are permitted under international law to use or support force in such circumstances where acting in self-defence is the only feasible means to deal with an ongoing armed attack and where the force used is necessary and proportionate."
The UK, France and Germany, in a joint statement on Sunday evening, accused Iran of carrying out "indiscriminate and disproportionate" strikes.
The BBC understands UK government officials are also formulating plans to potentially evacuate British nationals from the Middle East, should airspace in the region remain closed.
Posts
0 Comments