UK allows US to use its bases to strike Iran missile sites targeting Hormuz

# UK Authorizes US Use of British Bases for Strikes on Iranian Missile Sites

**LONDON** – In a significant escalation of the ongoing regional conflict, the British government announced on Friday that it has granted the United States authorization to utilize military bases located in the United Kingdom to conduct strikes against Iranian missile installations.

The targeted sites have been identified as the primary source of attacks on commercial shipping vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime chokepoint.

The decision follows a high-level meeting of British ministers at Downing Street. In an official statement, the government confirmed that the authorization falls under the umbrella of "collective self-defence," enabling the U.S. to degrade the offensive capabilities currently threatening the freedom of navigation in the region.

“They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement read.

This move marks a notable reversal for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Earlier this week, Starmer had expressed a desire to avoid dragging Britain into an all-out war with Iran, initially rejecting a formal U.S. request to use domestic bases until he could be assured that such military actions met the required legal thresholds.

The shift in policy comes as tensions continue to mount following a series of Iranian strikes against U.S. and British allies across the Middle East. Under the new agreement, the United States has been granted access to key facilities, including RAF Fairford in England and the joint US-UK base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

The decision arrives amidst a backdrop of political friction between London and Washington. President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticism of the Prime Minister, publicly complaining that the current British administration has not been doing enough to support the U.S. position in the conflict.

By facilitating these operations, the Starmer government appears to be signaling a pivot toward more active alignment with U.S. military objectives in the region, effectively bringing the UK closer to the front lines of the maritime crisis.