The UK will involve Ukrainian experts to help allies in the Gulf countries shoot down Iranian Shahed drones, Prime Minister Keir Starmer says. Kyiv has been suffering from Iranian Shahed drones for four years of Russia's war.
Iran has long been Russia's ally, supplying it with Shahed drones that killed thousands of Ukrainian civilians. Tehran has also transformed modern warfare, making drones the primary means of battlefield strikes on Ukraine's front lines and peaceful cities.
The US and Israel began striking Iran early on 28 February, and US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to remove their government.
The Iranian regime responded with attacks on US assets and countries in the region with a US military presence, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq.
Iran has used not only ballistic missiles but also Shahed drones — the same ones that Russia has been striking Ukrainian cities with for four years.
“Bringing together experts from Ukraine and the UK"
"And we will also bring experts from Ukraine together with our own experts to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones attacking them," Starmer claimed.
The UK has also allowed the US to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes in the Middle East.
According to Starmer, the decision to grant the US access to the bases was made to ensure “collective self-defense” of allies and to protect lives.
He stated that the US will use the bases for a specific and limited defensive purpose of intercepting Iranian missiles near their launch points.
"We decided to approve this request"
"We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved," Starmer said.
Notably, he emphasized that his country is not joining the strikes but will continue defensive operations in the region.
"We have taken the decision to accept this request to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved," Starmer said.
