UK Will Allow US to Use Bases to Strike Iranian Missile Sites

Published: 2 March 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk.
The English Chronicle Online

The British government has agreed to a U.S. request to use British military bases for “specific and limited defensive strikes” against Iranian missile sites following escalating tensions in the Middle East, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday. The move marks a notable shift in London’s posture amid a widening conflict triggered by recent U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran.

Starmer said in a video message that the United Kingdom’s decision is rooted in collective self‑defence and the protection of British lives and allies in the region. He framed the approval as a defensive measure designed to enable the United States to destroy Iranian missiles “at source” — specifically targeting missile depots, launchers and storage facilities that Tehran has employed in recent retaliatory strikes.

The prime minister emphasised that Britain itself will not participate in offensive operations against Iran, nor was it involved in the initial wave of strikes carried out by U.S. and Israeli forces that culminated in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Rather, Starmer said Britain’s own military engagement has focused on defensive actions, including intercepting Iranian strikes with Royal Air Force assets already deployed in the region.

According to official statements, there are more than 200,000 British nationals in Gulf countries facing missile and drone threats from Iran, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. Starmer highlighted the risks to civilians and underscored that regional partners had urged the UK to take stronger defensive measures. The decision to grant base access is being positioned as consistent with international law and the principle of collective self‑defence, though it stops short of committing British forces to direct strikes.

It is not yet clear which British bases will be used by U.S. forces, but potential facilities include RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the strategically located joint U.K.–U.S. base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean — sites capable of supporting long‑range operations. Separate media reports suggest British aircraft have already engaged in regional defensive operations.

The announcement has sparked debate in the United Kingdom. Some political figures and commentators have called for parliamentary scrutiny of the government’s decision, while others argue the step is necessary to deter further Iranian missile attacks and protect Western interests and civilians abroad. Starmer responded to criticism by stressing that the government’s legal and strategic rationale has been published to clarify the limited nature of the approval and its alignment with defensive objectives.

The broader context of the decision is the rapid escalation of hostilities following the joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, which have been met with widespread Iranian missile and drone retaliation across the Middle East. The United Kingdom, along with other Western allies, is balancing diplomatic efforts with security measures aimed at mitigating the threat posed by further escalation.

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