The British government has reached an agreement allowing the US to use its military bases, aiming to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Specifically, Britain has granted approval for the United States to use its military bases to launch strikes against Iranian missile facilities from which attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz are conducted. According to an announcement from Downing Street, government ministers met today to discuss the war involving Iran and Tehran’s blockade of the Straits. “They confirmed that the agreement for US use of UK bases for collective regional defense includes US defensive operations” aimed at striking missile facilities used by Iran for attacks against ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the announcement stated.
Read: Strait of Hormuz: Iran announces shipping corridor as US begins liberation operation (Video)
Britain clarifies it will not be directly involved in attacks
During today’s meeting, Britain clarified, however, that it will not be directly involved in the attacks, with Downing Street emphasizing that “the principles behind the United Kingdom’s approach to the conflict remain the same“. As reported by the BBC, they stressed “the need for urgent de-escalation and rapid resolution of the war“. A Downing Street spokesperson stated that ministers agreed the bases could now be used for “US defensive operations” aimed at providing “capabilities for attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz“.
Regarding which bases Britain is granting usage permission to the US, the Times reports these include the RAF base at Fairford and the base on Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean. The first base frequently hosts heavy B-52 bombers.
