Bloomberg: Britain allows use of its bases for US strikes on Iran

The new British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has approved the use of British military bases by the United States to carry out what Britain describes as defensive strikes against Iran, continuing Keir Starmer’s policy amid Trump’s escalation of the war. Bloomberg reported that Starmer chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency committee (COBR) last Friday to discuss British policy following the resumption of US military operations, amid concerns over the escalating intensity of the conflict. Sources said that ministers participating in the meeting decided to maintain the current policy, which allows the use of the Diego Garcia military base and the Royal Air Force Fairford base by US aircraft to conduct operations against the Iranian missile threat, as well as the use of sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz region. Sources added that Burnham, who assumed the premiership on Monday, was briefed on the discussions during the meeting and approved the decision taken. He will continue the previous government’s policy regarding approval for the use of British bases to carry out what the United States describes as defensive strikes. This means that British military bases are likely to be used in some ongoing US operations. The decision comes on the tenth day of the resumption of US military operations, with US Central Command announcing that it had targeted Iranian military command centers, missile launch sites, and air defense systems overnight. However, British officials have expressed concern over Trump’s threats to target bridges and power generation facilities. The decision is likely to draw criticism from left-wing Labour MPs, as well as from the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats, who argue that allowing the use of British bases makes the United Kingdom complicit in war crimes.