US and Israel strike Iran. (title edited by MNHQ at request of the OP)

[Twiglets1]

Israel attacked Iran early on Saturday morning, saying it had “launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran to remove threats to the state of Israel,” according to a military spokesman.

Israel closed its airspace and declared a state of emergency, in anticipation of
Iranian drone and missile strikes in response.

Explosions were heard in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian media reported.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/28/israel-launches-attack-on-iran-as-explosions-heard-in-tehran

There’s been plenty of criticism of what Trump has done in Iran, on here and elsewhere.
If, say, China tried to do the same thing and overthrow the regime in Saudi Arabia or Dubai, bombing cities and killing the rulers, I wonder if there would be criticism, or enthusiastic support from those opposed to Trump’s actions in Iran.

That makes no sense. Why would China want to overthrow Saudi Arabia or Dubai ? They also don't have the capability.

China, the PRC, are geared up to take the Island of Taiwan, by force if necessary . Taiwan, the ROC, being the other China.

The PRC does not hide the fact that it will take Taiwan by force if they want. They even have a law, the 2005 Anti-Secession law that clearly says that if TW declares independence, then the PRC must use military force.

Biden was clear, if the PRC invades TW, then the US will defend TW.

With Trump though, nobody knows. There is a suspicion he will do nothing. Or "make a deal".

Now, if the PRC done to TW what Trump has done in Iraq, there would be justified international uproar. Especially given that TW produces 90% of high end chips.

Japan suggested last year that they would defend TW. That has led to the lowest PRC/ Japan relations in decade. And of course if Japan got involved, there is the US/Japan defence treaty, so Trump likely would have to act.

The only western people cheering on such an event, on the PRC side, would likely just be a few stalwart Tankies such as George Galloway.

There is also stuff ongoing in the South China Sea. Mainly with the Philippines. But again, they have a defence pact with the US.

So your post really makes no sense.

Sorry for the tangent.

It looks like a UK based has been taegered......time for less fence sitting Keir

He is letting the US use RAF bases now.
No idea why this was not the case on Saturday, but he does like to flop about.

Statement from Keir Starmer on March 1st:

Yesterday, I spoke to you about the situation in the Gulf and explained that the United Kingdom was not involved in the strikes on Iran.
That remains the case.
Over the last two days Iran has launched sustained attacks across the region at countries who did not attack them.
They’ve hit airports and hotels where British citizens are staying.
This is clearly a dangerous situation.
We have at least 200,000 British citizens in the region - residents, families on holiday, and those in transit.
I ask all our people in the region to please register your presence and follow Foreign Office travel advice.
I know this is a deeply worrying time and we will continue to do all we can to support you.
Our Armed Forces who are located across the region are also being put at risk by Iran’s actions.
Yesterday Iran hit a military base in Bahrain, narrowly missing British personnel.
The death of the Supreme Leader will not stop Iran from launching these strikes.
Their approach is becoming even more reckless – and more dangerous to civilians.
Our decision that the UK would not be involved with the strikes on Iran was deliberate.
Not least because we believe that the best way forward for the region and for the world is a negotiated settlement.
One in which Iran agrees to give up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon.
But Iran is striking British interests nonetheless, and putting British people at huge risk, along with our allies across the region.
That is the situation we face today.
Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them, and it is my duty to protect British lives.
We have British jets in the air as part of coordinated defensive operations which have already successfully intercepted Iranian strikes.
But the only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source – in their storage depots or the launchers which used to fire the missiles.
The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose.
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.
The basis of our decision is the collective self-defence of longstanding friends and allies, and protecting British lives.
That is in accordance with international law. And we are publishing a summary of our legal advice.
We are not joining these strikes, but we will continue with our defensive actions in the region.
And we will also bring experts from Ukraine together with our own experts to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones attacking them.
I want to be very clear: we all remember the mistakes of Iraq.
And we have learned those lessons.
We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran and we will not join offensive action now.
But Iran is pursuing a scorched earth strategy - so we are supporting the collective self-defence of our allies and our people in the region.
Because that is our duty to the British people.
It is the best way to eliminate the urgent threat and prevent the situation spiralling further.
This is the British government protecting British interests and British lives.

www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-iran-1-march-2026

We should have let the US use our base s at the beginning. There is only one country during drones at our armed forces. Sometimes you have to pick a side in war.

Do we think the hit on the UK RAF base in Cyprus was intentional? Some people saying an indirect hit.

I'm not trying to be rude, just trying to understand your question, what do you think they were trying to hit when they potentially unintentionally hit the UK RAF base?

The Cypriot president confirmed that an unmanned Shahed drone was used to strike the RAF Akrotiri base at midnight local time (10pm GMT).

Explosions were heard near the base in the Limassol area and British servicemen received an alert warning of a “security threat”, urging them to take cover.

There were no casualties but the airfield apparently sustained minor damage.

Shahed drones are a type of kamikaze drone that function like guided missiles, designed to hit a specific target. So I think it's likely that the hit on the UK RAF base in Cyprus was intentional.

Morning..

If it helps as I recall Akrotiri from my odd visit to the place there's not much around the base that would be a credible alternative target, so on face value I'd say the drone attack(s) were deliberate.

I guess the jury is still out on what the ballistic missiles reported earlier in the day were targetted at.

So another nation has targeted our armed forces with the intention to kill. What normally do countries do when this happens?

Thank you.

Dunno, but I'm not sure many would start by going into a huddle with lawyers to discuss points of international law...

Saudi Arabia's Aramco Ras Tanura refinery shuts down after a drone attack, as a precautionary measure.

www.livemint.com/industry/energy/saudi-arabias-aramco-ras-tanura-refinery-hit-by-drone-strike-shuts-down-brent-crude-rises-9-11772436188885.html

With regard to the drone attack on the air base in Cyprus, the Ministry of Defence have just said that they believe the attack was likely launched before the PMs statement about allowing the US to use UK military bases.

Source: BBC news.

Thanks.

FWIW anyone trying to verify/challenge that statement (I'm sure someone will) by looking at timings will need to bear in mind the flight time of drones from credible launch areas.

https://x.com/Sajwani/status/2028360628893819220

Some interesting imagery of the US pilot who crash-landed in Kuwait.

Yes exactly.

I saw Yvette Cooper being interviewed by the BBC just before the MOD statement came through. She did allude to the flight time of drones but didn’t want to commit to saying that the attack was likely launched before the PMs statement before the MOD released their findings.

You can’t stop people speculating @notimagain but I consider the MOD a reputable source who understand a lot more about this situation than any of us.

Some will prefer not to believe them for their own reasons of course!

Someone said to me (not sure how true it is!) that Iran's missiles can't reach the US but CAN reach us which may have been the reason that Keir didn't want to let US use our air bases 🤔

AFAIK the Iranians do not have any ballistic missiles in their inventory thay can reach anything like as far as the UK from Iran.

It's easily fact checked so watch out for scaremongerers......they walk amongst us.

Thanks
I did think it was very unlikely but as you say 'scaremongers' already on SM.

Here you go:

It should be noted that the longer the range the less accurate the targeting, so anything fired towards Europe is more likely to end in the sea or some farmer's field.

@1dayatatime

Many thanks

People are assuming Iran will fire missiles from Iran. You do know they've been supplying Russia with thousands upon thousands of armed drones for use in Ukraine?
If they are fired from the Ukrainian border - now that' s a different map you'll need.