LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - The British government gave authorisation on Friday for the U.S. to use military bases in Britain to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in
UK approves US use of British bases to strike Iran missile sites targeting ships
UK Government Authorises US Military Action from British Bases
LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - The British government gave authorisation on Friday for the U.S. to use military bases in Britain to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Government Discussions and Official Statements
British ministers met on Friday to discuss the war with Iran and Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Downing Street statement.
Details of the Agreement
"They confirmed that the agreement for the U.S. to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes U.S. defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz," the statement said.
International Reactions and Political Responses
Iranian Response
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X that Starmer was "putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran," adding "Iran will exercise its right to self-defense."
UK Prime Minister's Position
Starmer said this week Britain would not be drawn into a war over Iran. He initially rejected a U.S. request to use British bases for the strikes on Iran, saying he needed to be satisfied that any military action was legal.
Change in Stance After Iranian Strikes
But the prime minister modified his stance after Iran conducted strikes on British allies across the Middle East, saying that the United States could use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-UK base in the Indian Ocean.
US Reactions
President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Starmer since the conflict started, complaining he was not doing enough to help him.
On Monday, Trump said there were "some countries that greatly disappointed me" before he singled out Britain, which he said had once been considered "the Rolls-Royce of allies".
Calls for De-escalation and Public Opinion
Official Calls for Peace
The Downing Street statement on Friday called for "urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war".
British Public Sentiment
Opinion polls in Britain suggest widespread scepticism about the war, with 59% of those surveyed by YouGov saying that they were opposed to the U.S.-Israeli attacks.
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Additional Reporting by Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Alison Williams and Cynthia Osterman)
