The United Kingdom has granted the United States permission to use British military bases for operations targeting Iran’s missile systems. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the decision in a video message on Monday, clarifying that the UK will not take part directly in the war. He said the move follows requests from allied nations in the Gulf region for stronger British involvement in their defense.

Starmer stated that British warplanes are already participating in joint air defense missions and have intercepted several Iranian missile attacks. He emphasized that neutralizing the threat requires destroying the missiles at their source, including Iranian storage sites and launchers. The United States requested access to British bases for what it described as “specific and limited defensive purposes,” and the UK government accepted the request to prevent further Iranian attacks that could endanger civilians and British nationals.

The announcement comes amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, including recent missile strikes on energy facilities in Qatar and attacks on oil tankers near Oman.