The British government appears to be getting more involved in Donald Trump and Israel's war with Iran as it plans to station a British warship at its military base in Cyprus, British media reported.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK will not join the US and Israel in any offensive action. However, fears are growing that Britain could be drawn into another Iraq-style conflict as British interests are directly targeted.
On Monday, a drone was shot down on the runway of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, a key hub for British air operations in the Middle East, in what is believed to be the first attack on the British base since 1986.
Two more drones targeted RAF Akrotiri on Monday morning were intercepted, according to a Cypriot government spokesman.
Starmer allowed the US to use British bases for “defensive“ strikes on Iranian missile sites,” saying it was necessary for “collective self-defence” of allies and to protect British lives, CNN recalls.
Among the British public, involvement in the conflict remains unpopular,” with some Labour lawmakers warning that the government is repeating past mistakes. “I just think we are getting involved, just like we were in Iraq, following the US into an incredibly dangerous situation,” Labour MP John McDonnell told the BBC.
The Liberal Democrats are pushing for a parliamentary vote on the issue, with their leader Ed Davey calling the move “a slippery slope”.