The UK said it's allowing the U.S. to use its bases for defensive strikes against Iran amid escalating missile attacks, after a suspected drone strike hit a British airbase in southern Cyprus, causing limited damage.
In a video message on X on Sunday (1 March), British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United States had requested permission to use British bases for “a specific and limited defensive purpose.”
He added, “We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region.”
Starmer emphasised that the UK was not involved in the joint U.S.-Israel airstrikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and would not participate in further attacks. He warned that Iran had retaliated with missile strikes across the region, targeting airports and hotels hosting British citizens.
“Our decision that the UK would not be involved in strikes on Iran was deliberate,” Starmer said, “because the best way forward is a negotiated settlement, in which Iran abandons any nuclear weapons ambitions.”
He also noted that Britain’s Gulf allies had requested additional protection. British fighter jets were already engaged in coordinated defensive operations to intercept Iranian strikes. Starmer framed the decision to allow U.S. forces to use British bases as an act of “collective self-defence of long-standing friends and allies and protecting British lives” under international law.
Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump told the Daily Telegraph that he was “very disappointed” with Starmer for not allowing the U.S. to use the Diego Garcia air base in the Chagos Archipelago for strikes. He said it took “too long” for Starmer to decide and suggested the UK leader may have been concerned about legality.
Two unmanned drones targeting Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) base Akrotiri in Cyprus were “successfully intercepted,” southern Cyprus government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on X.
Earlier, the base had reportedly been hit by a suspected drone strike overnight, causing limited damage but no casualties, according to southern Cypriot authorities and the UK Ministry of Defence.
“Information received through various channels indicates it involved an unmanned drone,” the government spokesperson said, while the MoD confirmed no injuries.
Akrotiri, one of two sovereign British facilities on the eastern Mediterranean island, is part of the European Union. Authorities temporarily dispersed non-essential personnel as a precaution, while other facilities continued to operate normally.
The incident coincided with heightened regional tensions. Just after midday Monday (1000 GMT), sirens sounded at Akrotiri and aircraft took off.
Paphos airport, about 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the base, was also evacuated after a suspicious object was detected on radar, according to the southern Cyprus state broadcaster.
Qatar has confirmed that seven people, including four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, were killed on Sunday (22 March) ...
Georgia bid farewell to Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II on Sunday (22 March). He was considered one of the most influential spiritual leaders in ...
Palestinians have reported a surge in attacks by Israeli settlers on homes, vehicles, and residents across the West Bank, amid growing internati...
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime ...
A drone attack on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed at least 64 people and injured 89 more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported...
Britain’s Ministry of Defence is reviewing military flight records after files appeared to show that Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet landed at Royal Air Force bases, adding fresh pressure on police who are already examining his movements through several civilian airports.
Peter Mandelson has been one of the most influential and controversial figures in British politics but disclosures about his past relationships and conduct in government have triggered a political crisis in the UK and raising questions internationally. But who is he and why is he in the headlines?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said former Prince Andrew should testify before the U.S. Congress following the release of millions of new documents linked to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the files also raise fresh questions about ties between Epstein and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Britain against doing business with Beijing. His comments came as Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted the economic benefits of resetting relations with China during a visit on Friday (30 January).
President Donald Trump said the U.S. was considering "winding down" its military operation against Iran, as Iran and Israel traded attacks on Saturday (21 March) and Iranian media said the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz had been attacked.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that American forces could target Iranian power plants if the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and Iran, in return, warned that any attack on its energy infrastructure would trigger strikes on regional facilities.
Slovenia heads to the polls on Sunday (22 March) in a closely contested race between incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob and right-wing former Prime Minister Janez Janša.
Italy is voting on 22 and 23 March in a judicial reform referendum that could reshape the justice system and test Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s political strength ahead of the 2027 general election.
Iceland could reopen talks on joining the European Union after a 13-year pause, as shifting security concerns and renewed economic debate bring EU membership back to the centre of national politics.
Qatar has confirmed that seven people, including four of its military personnel and three Turkish nationals, were killed on Sunday (22 March) when a helicopter crashed in the country’s territorial waters.
Belgium has marked the 10th-anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks, remembering the victims of the country’s deadliest peacetime attack and reflecting on changes to national security.
A drone attack on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan, has killed at least 64 people and injured 89 more, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Saturday.
Cuba’s national power grid went down on Saturday, cutting electricity for millions, officials said. The outage marks the second nationwide blackout in a week and the third major grid failure in March.
A British nuclear-powered submarine armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles has reportedly taken up position in the Arabian Sea, the Daily Mail reported on Saturday (21 March). The deployment gives the UK the ability to carry out long-range strikes if tensions in the Gulf escalate.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment