The US-Israel war with Iran: Why various Gulf states are angry with the UK and Keir Starmer | World News –

Britain is facing sharp criticism from its partners in the Gulf after Iranian missile strikes led to escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Regional allies say the UK government responded to the threat too slowly and postponed key military decisions at a critical moment.Britain’s allies in the Gulf and Cyprus have raised concerns that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer did not act quickly enough to protect the region and British citizens during recent Iranian missile attacks. According to The Times (UK), officials in Bahrain and the UAE privately questioned the UK’s response and defensive stance around Cyprus, where Britain operates two military bases.

The UK maintains a naval support facility in Bahrain with approximately 300 service personnel. The base is located near the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, which was bombed by an Iranian missile. John Healey, British Defense Secretary, said that the missile fell less than 200 meters from British forces.Frustration among Gulf partners also stems from delays in allowing the United States to use joint military bases, including those of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, to conduct what Washington has called defensive air strikes against Iranian missile sites.

Starmer eventually agreed to the request on Sunday evening, but allies viewed the delay as a slow response during the escalating conflict.Military deployments have also drawn criticism. British F-35 and Typhoon aircraft based in Cyprus carry out defensive missions to intercept Iranian missiles and drones. However, the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon will not depart for Cyprus until next week as the ship is being taken out of maintenance and fitted with the required weapons.A Western official told The Times (UK) that the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon reached the Chief of the Defense Staff at 9.30am on Tuesday, four days after the conflict began and almost two days after RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by a drone. The proposal was then presented to ministers and approved shortly afterwards.Further reinforcements are planned. The Royal Navy’s Wildcat helicopters, armed with Martlet missiles designed to counter air threats, are expected to arrive in Cyprus within days.Cypriot officials have welcomed the support but say it is arriving slowly. Kyriakos Kouros, Cyprus’ High Commissioner to the UK, said the deployment of HMS Dragon was “welcome” but noted that it would take more than a week for the ship to reach the area. He compared the UK’s timetable to that of other allies.“The French are coming,” said Couros. “The least we expect is that the British will also be present because, as I said, we are not just defending the Cypriots on the islands.”Tensions escalated further after reports that Starmer delayed approving US use of British bases after objections within the Cabinet. The hesitation is said to have angered Gulf governments, especially the United Arab Emirates, where most of the 300,000 Britons living in the region are based.A source familiar with the UAE’s concerns told The Times (UK) that there was a feeling of pressure on the prime minister to grant approval, adding that the incident reflected poorly in the eyes of the Gulf Cooperation Council.According to the Spectator, government ministers, including Ed Miliband, Rachel Reeves and Shabana Mahmood, raised objections during a National Security Council meeting on Friday about allowing the US to launch attacks on Iran from British bases.This was approved on Sunday, after the allies in the region had already been attacked.In the House of Commons, Starmer defended the previous hesitation, saying there was initially no legal basis or clear operational plan.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said the government does not comment on National Security Council discussions and insisted the final decision had the support of the Cabinet.The government said it had strengthened military defenses across the region. A spokesman said that Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets were flying from Cyprus and Qatar, conducting defensive sorties and intercepting Iranian drones.The officials added that since January, the UK has deployed additional radar systems, air defense assets and F-35 aircraft to Cyprus, along with Typhoon aircraft to Qatar.

Reinforcements now include Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles and the planned deployment of HMS Dragon in the eastern Mediterranean.The government also confirmed that the Prime Minister allowed the United States to use British bases for defensive missions targeting Iranian missile capabilities, adding that the United Kingdom remains ready to protect its forces and regional allies.