RAF Akrotiri Base in Cyprus Attacked Amid UK-US Military Cooperation
Good morning and welcome to today’s live coverage.
Just hours after Keir Starmer stated that the UK has permitted attacks on Iranian missile sites, the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus was struck.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, appearing on several morning programs, confirmed the strike on the Akrotiri base but did not disclose further details. Both Cypriot authorities and the Ministry of Defence reported no casualties and only limited damage.
Cooper Defends UK Decision to Support US Defensive Actions
On BBC Breakfast, Cooper defended the UK’s decision to allow the US to use British military bases, emphasizing that the decision was strictly related to "defensive action around the Gulf."
“We made a deliberate decision to not provide support for the US strikes that have been taking place over the weekend. We have continued to take the view that we wanted to see diplomatic progress and negotiated agreement around this threat from Iranian nuclear weapons,” Cooper said.
“But we also now face the situation where there are 300,00 estimated British citizens in other Gulf countries that are being targeted by Iranian missiles and drones.
“That is why we are providing support for defensive action. It’s important to say that the UK is not going to be involved directly in those strikes, but are providing support. This is about ballistic missiles and launches that are pointed at the Gulf. It is only about defensive action around the Gulf. It is not about support for any political or economic or broader infrastructure targets. There’s a clear difference there.”
The UK has agreed to a US request to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper discussed the 'specific and limited' nature of this agreement on #BBCBreakfast.
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Evacuation Plans and Support for British Nationals in the Gulf
Cooper addressed questions regarding evacuation plans for British nationals in Gulf countries affected by missile attacks. Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, she explained that the government is collaborating with airlines, travel companies, and local governments. Rapid deployment teams are being sent to provide assistance to Britons in the region, many of whom face difficulties returning to the UK due to closed airspace and grounded flights. Currently, 102,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the area.
“We’re saying to people, the most important thing at the moment is to follow the local advice, which in most places is around sheltering in place, and we are sending out rapid deployment teams to the region to work with the travel industry, to work with local governments as well, to make sure that citizens can get support,” Cooper said on .
“Of course, we want people to get safely home as swiftly as possible.”
