London: British bases in Cyprus are not being used by US bombers, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday. He added that a strike in RAF Akrotiri was not linked to any recent decision taken by London.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Starmer, speaking in the House of Commons, defended his government's decision not to participate in the initial US-Israeli strikes against Iran. He emphasized that the United Kingdom is pursuing a diplomatic approach to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to halt its destabilizing actions in the region. Despite this stance, he acknowledged that he had to agree to a US request for limited use of British bases for defensive purposes only.
Starmer condemned Iran's retaliatory actions, which included launching missiles and drones at Gulf countries uninvolved in the strikes, labeling these as threats to British interests and allies. He stressed that the UK is not engaging in offensive operations alongside the US and Israel.
The Prime Minister highlighted the presence of approximately 300,000 British nationals in the region, noting that Iranian strikes had targeted locations such as airports and hotels where British citizens were present. He mentioned an attack on a military base in Bahrain housing 300 British personnel and a drone strike on the RAF base at Akrotiri in Cyprus. Starmer reiterated that British bases in Cyprus are not serving US bombers and that the strike was unrelated to any recent UK decisions.
Starmer remarked on Iran's longstanding hostility towards Britain, citing that over 20 potentially deadly attacks on UK soil were thwarted in the past year. He also reported that British Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets are actively involved in defensive operations in the Middle East, intercepting threats like Iranian missiles aimed at a coalition base in Iraq where British troops are stationed.
Addressing President Trump's disagreement with the UK's initial decision to abstain from the first round of strikes, Starmer emphasized his responsibility to prioritize Britain's national interests. British media have noted that Iranian drone attacks on Akrotiri in Cyprus followed London's approval to Washington. However, Starmer, referencing intelligence reports, clarified that these drones had been launched prior to his public address.