Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that the United Kingdom will not participate in offensive military action against Iran, emphasizing that the “mistakes of Iraq” have been learned. His remarks came hours before an Iranian drone reportedly struck a UK air force base in Cyprus.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking late Sunday, Starmer highlighted that Britain had deliberately stayed out of the initial strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.

“I want to be very clear: we all remember the mistakes of Iraq. And we have learned those lessons,” he said. “We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran and we will not join offensive action now.”

Reports indicate that shortly after his statement, a drone believed to have been launched by Iran hit the runway of RAF Akrotiri, a key British military base in Cyprus.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed the attack occurred just after midnight. “A Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the military facilities of the British Bases in Akrotiri, causing minor material damage,” he said, noting that the impact affected the airport runway.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper verified the location of the strike, saying the government is assessing the damage and considering ways to assist British nationals in the region. The base, near the southern coastal city of Limassol, is part of a British overseas territory and serves as a strategic hub for UK operations in the Middle East.

‘UK Is Not at War’

Despite the attack, UK officials have emphasized that Britain is not a party to the conflict. Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer said the government deliberately chose not to participate in the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes.

“Let me be really clear: the UK took a deliberate decision not to be part of the first wave of strikes conducted by the United States and Israeli governments. But in the face of reckless attacks from Iran on a range of allies in the region… we decided, as the Prime Minister announced last night, to support the US request to use our bases strictly for defensive actions,” he said.

Starmer had earlier confirmed that Britain agreed to Washington’s request to use UK bases only for a “specific and limited defensive purpose.”

Cooper added that around 300,000 British citizens are currently in Gulf countries affected by Iranian strikes, with some airspace closures complicating evacuation efforts. “There’s an estimated 300,000 British citizens in Gulf countries targeted by Iran, including areas where airspace is now closed,” she told Sky News. She urged citizens to register with UK authorities and follow local safety guidance, noting that more than 100,000 UK nationals have already done so.

Scottish teacher Felicity Flanagan, living in Dubai, described hearing loud explosions while at the beach. “Moments later, we saw what we believed to be shrapnel from the missile fall into the water in front of us,” she told BBC Radio Scotland. She said she has since stayed indoors following British embassy advice.

Different From Iraq – Expert View

Addressing comparisons with the 2003 Iraq war, Rosa Freedman, an international law expert at the University of Reading, said the current situation is “materially different.” She noted that tensions follow the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel and ongoing concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme.

“The Iranian people have tried for many years to overthrow this regime, with tens of thousands of young people killed in recent weeks. Regime change is necessary for domestic and international stability and security,” Freedman added.