Britain has warned it could launch strikes against Iran and will co-operate with its American allies across the Middle East. The UK has also agreed to a US request to use British military bases to strike Iranian missile sites, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The warning emerges as Iran presses ahead with its offensive across the region in retaliatory strikes following the joint US-Israeli operation yesterday, which saw missiles unleashed upon Tehran.
In a joint declaration alongside France and Germany, the UK indicated it may participate in strikes on Iranian territory for the first time.
"We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially through enabling necessary and proportionate defensive action to destroy Iran's capability to fire missiles and drones at their source," it read.
"We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this matter."
The development follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statement yesterday that the UK "played no role" in Operation Epic Fury, though he cautioned that British aircraft "are in the sky".
Earlier today, Britain formally entered the confrontation as the Ministry of Defence confirmed an RAF fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone en route to Qatar.
Defence Secretary John Healey also revealed two Iranian missiles seemed to be travelling towards Cyprus, which hosts UK military installations, before landing in the water. The government does not believe the missiles were intentionally aimed at the British bases, however.
Iran maintained its attacks on the Middle East today, with ambitions to strike US and French military facilities. Missiles have also destroyed civilian infrastructure throughout the region.
The leaders of the UK, France and Germany, collectively known as the E3, jointly stated they were "appalled by the indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks launched by Iran against countries in the region, including those who were not involved in initial US and Israeli military operations".
The statement added: "Iran's reckless attacks have targeted our close allies and are threatening our service personnel and our civilians across the region.
"We call on Iran to stop these reckless attacks immediately.
"We will take steps to defend our interests and those of our allies in the region, potentially through enabling necessary and proportionate defensive action to destroy Iran's capability to fire missiles and drones at their source.
"We have agreed to work together with the US and allies in the region on this matter."
Mr Starmer has been under increasing pressure to support or participate in the US-Israeli offence.
