The British government has authorized the United States to use British military bases to strike Iranian missile sites in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Downing Street statement.British ministers met on Friday to review the escalating conflict with Iran and Tehran’s interference with shipping in the main waterway.The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) quoted the statement as saying, “They confirmed that the US agreement to use British bases for collective self-defense in the region includes US defensive actions to degrade missile sites and capabilities used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.”Prime Minister Keir Starmer had earlier said Britain would not be involved in a war with Iran and initially rejected a US request to use British bases, citing the need to ensure any military action was legally justified.However, after Iran launched attacks on Britain’s allies in the Middle East, he changed his stance, allowing the US to conduct operations from RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Starmer’s stance since the conflict began. On Monday, he said “there are countries that let me down very much” before singling out Britain, which he said was once considered “the Rolls-Royce of allies”.The Downing Street statement also called for “urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war”.
