UK Approves US Strikes on Iran from British Bases
The UK government has formally given the US permission to use British bases for limited strikes against Iranian missile capabilities amid rising regional tensions. The move drew criticism from Defence Secretary John Healey, who warned it puts UK troops and civilians at greater risk. The UK also launched a separate operation to support thousands of Britons in the Middle East.
The approval for US strikes marks a significant policy reversal for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government. Just weeks prior, the UK had denied US requests to use its bases for potential action against Iran, citing concerns that it could breach international law without clear legal justification. That initial refusal reportedly created friction with Washington. The government's justification for this U-turn is what it terms Iran's "scorched earth strategy" of sustained missile attacks over two days. These attacks allegedly hit airports and hotels, endangering an estimated 200,000 British citizens in the region and narrowly missing UK personnel at a military base in Bahrain. The legal basis for the approval is cited as collective self-defence. The agreement grants the US access to strategically vital overseas military installations. Key among them are RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, a hub for Middle East operations, and the joint US-UK naval support facility on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which hosts American heavy bombers, has also been part of the discussions. These bases have a long history of supporting US military action. RAF Akrotiri was used in operations against ISIS and Houthi targets, while Diego Garcia served as a critical launchpad for B-52 bombers during the 1991 Gulf War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and operations in Afghanistan. The scope of the current agreement is for "specific and limited defensive purposes" targeting Iranian missile storage sites and launchers. Prime Minister Starmer has stated that UK forces will not participate in offensive strikes but that Royal Air Force jets are already flying defensive missions in the region. The risks of this decision were realized almost immediately. Shortly after the UK gave its approval, Iran fired two missiles toward Cyprus which landed in the sea, and the RAF Akrotiri base itself was struck by a suspected drone attack.
