To Be Confused Over The Bombing Of RAF Akritiri?

[Arraminta]

My father was stationed at RAF Akritiri back in the 1960s and back then it was considered British Sovereign land, so legally exactly the same as say London or Yorkshire.

So, presumably now that Iran has bombed RAF Akritiri it's no different to Iran bombing an RAF base here in Lincolnshire etc?

But Keir Starmer has made it clear that the UK won't retaliate by attacking sites in Iran to stop their bombing capabilities.

So, am wondering if our bases in Cyprus are no longer sovereign land?

Nuance...

Google it.

@Arraminta

Do you really think that the UK could really make a significant difference by 'retaliating'
The good old US of A is bombing the hell of the middle east.

The UK is far better acting in defence of its bases, evacuating its citizens and not getting dragged into this war further by the lunatic in Mar a lago who has no regard for the sacrifices made by UK service men and women in Afghanistan

RAF planes are certainly in the air in the region and have been at least since yesterday evening. You can see them on Flightradar (that's just the ones with their transponder on, I am sure there are others).

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Why did you edit your post

Unfortunately, the UK being drawn in on some level was inevitable.

Do I agree with it? Absolutely not
Under the current situation, could the UK have done anything to avoid it? No.

As unpalatable as it may be, we need to accept I think USA has been allowed to become all together too powerful to the point its actions cannot be checked anyone, other than possibly Russia and China. And no one wants that either.

The mechanisms that were put in place to supposedly prevent this exact situation- a nation acting without restraint in its own interests-have been proven to be completely ineffectual.

Didn't Vance say the rules of engagement were stupid and no longer applied? Or words to that effect?

The US' own internal mechanisms are also wholly ineffectual to constrain the president's will. And I hope the last term will prove this and force change. No one should individually and unilaterally have that much power on a global level. That is before we even get started on the lack of international constraints and the UN veto.

And the cynic in me strongly suspects inflating oil prices has been a very strong factor in this action. This is of course unforgiveable at the cost of human life. Very many completely innocent people on both sides will die, or have died already.

If the RAF base counts as British soveriegn land, surely Article 5 of NATO would be invoked?

Do any other countries have bases outside the ME besides UK, and if so are they not also vulnerable? I'm obviously no tactical military expert AT ALL, but it may depend on whether bases are being used by the US military or not. Welcome corrections/clarifications. Thank you.

Iran doesn't have missiles that are long enough range for that.

I wondered about this.

"Involved" doesn't necessarily mean "sent fighter jets with cruise missiles". RAF jets are absolutely up in the air shooting down Iranian retaliation missiles. From today's The Times https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/is-uk-war-iran-news-today-lhbgshz9s (behind paywall): "Britain had already scrambled fighter jets to defend allied airspace from waves of attack drones and cruise missiles. It is now also facilitating US airstrikes against Iranian storage depots and missile launchers by allowing American aircraft to use joint bases as launchpads."

Article 5 doesn't apply when a member state has launched a war of aggression.

I'm not entirely sure I'll pass the physical?

The UK managed not to get itself dragged into the Vietnam War. Perhaps we had stronger statesmen back then.

And he (Trump) does not care one iota about the ordinary Iranians on the ground.

From The Times, among other sources: "Britain had already scrambled fighter jets to defend allied airspace from waves of attack drones and cruise missiles. It is now also facilitating US airstrikes against Iranian storage depots and missile launchers by allowing American aircraft to use joint bases as launchpads." (behind paywall)

It's time people realised that Trump, just like Biden before him, is just a puppet for forces much greater than he.

Oooo - I love a batshit conspiracy theory!

@XDownwiththissortofthingX- seems to know more than the rest of us or the world media. Amazing!

Yes, I know. I'm just curious where our government is drawing the line between British sovereign land overseas and here.

Jesus H Christ... can't you get past the legalese from this weasel to get to the point? All he's saying is that RAF jets are not currently firing cruise missiles into Iranian territory. They are involved in OTHER ways. From The Times: "Britain had already scrambled fighter jets to defend allied airspace from waves of attack drones and cruise missiles. It is now also facilitating US airstrikes against Iranian storage depots and missile launchers by allowing American aircraft to use joint bases as launchpads."

Iran isn't in nato?

"Britain had already scrambled fighter jets to defend allied airspace from waves of attack drones and cruise missiles. It is now also facilitating US airstrikes against Iranian storage depots and missile launchers by allowing American aircraft to use joint bases as launchpads." From The Times (behind paywall). I hope an apology is coming.

That quote does not say that British forces have taken part in strikes, which is what you stated

Do you even understand what you've written? The question was about the applicability of Article 5 in the event of Iran striking sovereign British bases in Cyprus. Britain IS in NATO, isn't it?

From you, I assume? You keep quoting things and stating theories that do not involve British forces in strikes on Iran.