Brits have been advised not to travel to Israel given the conflict
Iran has warned that British military bases in the area might be attacked after the fighting between Iranians and Israelis escalated into mutual missile strikes.
Earlier this week, Israel carried out several attacks on Iran, hitting nuclear research sites and taking out some of Iran’s top military leaders.
Iran responded with its own strikes; while some were stopped by Israeli defense systems, others got through.
Israel then launched more strikes, hitting energy facilities in Iran, including an oil refinery. US President Donald Trump indicated that Israel would keep attacking until Iran agreed to a deal regarding its nuclear program.
Iran has declared that these missile strikes are a ‘declaration of war’ and warned that any countries assisting in blocking its retaliation against Israel would also be seen as targets, including the UK.
Israel launched missiles at Iran and there have been multiple exchanges since then (Stringer/Getty Images)
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has asked for a reduction in the conflict, even though more military resources like jets have been sent to the area.
The Foreign Office has also put out a travel warning advising British citizens not to travel to Israel, stating that the situation between Israel and Iran is ‘changing quickly and poses serious risks’ which ‘could get worse rapidly and without notice’.
The government has made it clear that sending more jets to the Middle East does not mean that Britain is at war; it is simply a ‘safety measure’.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves mentioned that the UK has ‘not participated in these attacks or this conflict’, and that the jets were deployed to safeguard ‘important assets in the area’.
Iranian state media reported that US, UK, and French military bases and ships in the region might be targeted if those nations support Israel.
Iran has retaliated against Israel, and threatened that UK bases and ships could also be targeted (MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)
The UK has a naval support base in Bahrain where a Type 23 frigate and some mine-hunting ships are located.
At the same time, the RAF already had planes in the Middle East as part of Operation Shader, which is still working against ISIS.
Even though both the US and UK have said they didn’t take part in the missile strikes and that Israel acted on its own, Trump warned Iran by stating that if it attacked the US in any way, the ‘might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before’.
Starmer’s statement was not as aggressive, as the prime minister mentioned: “The message is: de-escalate.
“We have long-standing worries about Iran’s nuclear program. We do acknowledge Israel’s right to defend itself. But I’m very clear that this situation needs to calm down. There is a big risk of escalation for the region.”
Featured Image Credit: Henry Nicholls – WPA Pool/Getty Images