British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has allowed the United States to use Royal Air Force bases in Cyprus for defensive operations against Iran. He had previously refused such permission, but changed his mind after massive Iranian strikes on countries in the region.
This was reported by The Independent.
During a video address on March 1, Starmer said he was giving the US permission to use the bases for “specific and limited defensive purposes” — to protect British and American allies in the Middle East.
“The US has requested permission to use British bases for these specific and limited defensive purposes. We have decided to grant this request to prevent Iran from firing missiles into the region, killing civilians, endangering British citizens and striking countries not involved in the conflict,” he said.
The prime minister said that over the past two days, Iran has carried out massive strikes on countries that have not attacked it. Iranian missiles have hit airports and hotels where British citizens are staying. At least 200,000 British citizens are in the region – residents, families on holiday and transit passengers.
Earlier, British Defense Secretary John Healy reported that two Iranian missiles were flying towards Cyprus, where British bases are located. Starmer also said that Iran had attacked a military base in Bahrain – the missiles almost hit British troops.
“The death of the supreme leader will not stop Iran from carrying out these strikes. Their approach becomes even more reckless and dangerous to civilians,” Starmer added.
According to him, the UK's decision not to join the strikes on Iran was deliberate, as London believes the best path for the region is a negotiated settlement in which Iran gives up its nuclear ambitions. However, Iran, despite this, strikes at British interests.
Starmer said British fighter jets had already taken to the air for joint defensive operations and had intercepted Iranian missiles. However, he said the only way to stop the threat was to destroy the missiles in storage or at their launch sites.
On February 20, the British television channel Sky News reported that Britain had not allowed the United States to use its military bases as part of an operation against Iran due to possible violations of international law.
Israeli and US military operation against Iran
On February 28, Israel attacked the Iranian capital, Tehran. US President Donald Trump later said that the US military had launched a “major combat operation” against Iran to “eliminate the imminent threat posed by the Iranian regime”. He accused the Iranian regime of “funding and training” militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Hamas in Palestine. According to him, the aim of the military operation was to “destroy Iran's missile industry and navy” and “ensure that it cannot destabilise the world”.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched missiles and drones towards Israel, and also attacked US military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Amid the US military operation against Iran, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Paris is calling for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.
The European Union said it reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to ensuring regional security and stability” in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was fair to give the Iranians a chance to get rid of “the terrorist regime and guarantee the security of all peoples who have suffered from attacks from Iran.”
On February 28, Trump tweeted that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was dead. The information was later confirmed by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
On March 1, the IRGC announced that it was launching “the most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic” against Israel and “American terrorist bases.” Trump called on the Iranian regime to abandon these plans and threatened to strike “a very strong blow” in response.