Iran has actually threatened to target UK, French and United States military bases throughout the Middle East if the aid obstruct the Iranian rocket and drone retaliation for Israel’s attack.
Both nations have actually exchanged substantial aerial attacks after Israel introduced a surprise rocket attack on a few of Tehran’s nuclear centers, uranium professionals and high-ranking authorities on Friday (13 June). Lots of civilians have actually been eliminated in the crossfire.
Sir Keir Starmer has actually revealed extra British fighter jets are being released to the Middle East as a “contingency assistance” in the area.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves today firmly insisted Britain is not at war regardless of sending out more RAF jets to the Middle East, however stated the UK might play a military function safeguarding Israel from continuous Iranian attacks.
United States president Donald Trump, on the other hand, alerted Iran that an attack on its military interests in the area would be met the “complete strength and may of the United States Army”.
Listed below, The Independent takes a look at where the British, French and the Americans have an existence throughout the Middle East.
Britain’s military bases The UK has 3 irreversible military websites in the Middle East, in addition to an RAF base in Cyprus in the Mediterranean.
The UK opened an irreversible military centre at the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates last March. Called after a The second world war pilot, William Donnelly, the centre is a fairly little military center geared up with a head office, a well-being center and lodging.
It likewise runs an irreversible military existence in Bahrain and Oman, both of which are utilized by the British Navy.
Its primary operating base in the area is RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, home to a variety of fighter jets.
It likewise has access to the US-run Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
United States military existence in the Middle East The American existence in the Middle East is substantially bigger.
It runs a broad network of websites throughout a minimum of 19 places in the larger area, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
8 are irreversible, consisting of in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
United States forces have actually been assaulted on a number of celebrations by Iran-backed forces given that the break out of the current war in Gaza and the subsequent disputes with other state and non-state stars in the larger area.
In January 2024, 3 American soldiers were eliminated and lots more hurt after a one-way attack drone struck the military base Tower 22 in Jordan, near the Syrian border. United States authorities blamed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias, for the attack.
French military bases in the Middle East The French existence in the Middle East is mostly based at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, where it has an irreversible attire stationed there.
French soldiers in the UAE number about 650, according to the French Army Ministry.
It has actually likewise occasionally run from Jordan, combating militia forces in Syria and Iraq.