Starmer lets US use bases for Iran clash: UK’s military, legal quagmire
Al Jazeera
A drone strike at a British base in Cyprus highlights UK’s precarious position in US attacks on Iran as it walks a legal and military tightrope.
Early on Monday, a suspected Iranian drone crashed into the runway at the United Kingdom’s RAF Akrotiri base in southern Cyprus. British and Cypriot officials said the damage was limited. There were no casualties.
Hours later, two drones headed for the base were “dealt with in a timely manner”, according to the Cypriot government.
The incidents came as Prime Minister Keir Starmer signalled on Sunday that the UK was prepared to support the United States in its confrontation with Iran – raising the prospect that it could be drawn deeper into a war it did not choose by its closest ally.
In a joint statement with the leaders of France and Germany, Starmer said the European group was ready to take “proportionate defensive action” to destroy threats “at their source”.
Later, in a televised address, he confirmed that Westminster approved a US request to use British bases for the “defensive purpose” of destroying Iranian missiles “at source in their storage depots, or the launches which are used to fire the missiles”.
Separately, MSF says 26 humanitarian workers are missing following recent violence in South Sudan’s Jonglei state.
Barcelona face gargantuan task of trying to overturn a 4-0 defeat in the second leg of the semifinal tie at Camp Nou.
Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II has changed the nature of warfare, including today’s Middle East crisis.
Nawaf Salam says all Hezbollah activities are ‘illegal’ after the group launched attacks on Israel.
Civilian deaths are growing as more attacks are reported in the capital and other parts of the country.
Assassinations give a short-term political boost but lead to long-term disaster.
Bilateral trade expected to hit $50bn by 2030, says Indian PM Modi as he hosts his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney.
How will strained ties between ECOWAS and neighbours Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso affect the fight against armed groups?
From schedule and venues to title favourites and their route to the semifinals – Al Jazeera explains it all.
Two weeks of campaign showed a wave of younger candidates promising to tackle economy and challenge veteran politicians.
Videos show smoke rising from a refinery operated by Saudi after a fire broke out caused by debris from a missile.