REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, LONDON \u2014 The British government has approved the\nexpansion of United States (US) access to UK bases for operations\ntargeting Iran\u2019s missile capabilities that threaten shipping in the\nStrait of Hormuz, according to a Downing Street statement. The\ngovernment statement mentions that in a meeting on Friday (20\/3),\ncabinet ministers confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK\nbases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defence\noperations to reduce the capabilities and sites of missiles used to\nattack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
The government emphasised that \u201cthe principles behind the UK\u2019s\napproach to the conflict remain the same\u201d and called for \u201curgent\nde-escalation and a swift resolution to the war.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cabinet ministers \u201ccondemned Iran\u2019s expansion of targets to\ninclude international shipping.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey agreed that Iran\u2019s reckless attacks, including against Red\nEnsign ships (British Shipping Registers) and allied and Gulf partner\nships nearby, risk pushing the region further into crisis and\nexacerbating the economic impacts felt in the UK and around the\nworld.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a post on his X social media account, Conservative opposition\nleader Kemi Badenoch described the decision as \u201cthe biggest U-turn of\nall time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the intensive US-Israel attacks began on 28 February, Britain\nhas shifted from initial refusal of base access to deeper logistical and\noperational involvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile taking the necessary actions to defend ourselves and our\nallies, we will not become involved in a wider war,\u201d said British Prime\nMinister Starmer on Monday. He added that the British government would\ncontinue to work to end the fighting.<\/p>\n
However, Britain\u2019s increasingly expansive role in the conflict has\nsparked debate over whether that position is becoming harder to\nsustain.<\/p>\n
Regional hostilities in the Middle East have intensified since Israel\nand the US launched combined attacks against Iran on 28 February, which\nhave so far reportedly killed around 1,300 people, including Iran\u2019s\nthen-top leader, Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks across the region\nand has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to most ships.<\/p>\n
The Strait of Hormuz is a major oil transit route that typically\nhandles around 20 million barrels per day and about 20 percent of global\nliquefied natural gas trade.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/britain-allows-us-to-use-bases-to-target-iranian-missiles-1774065075", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }