Trump to use British bases for ‘surge’ in Iran attacks

[Twiglets1]

The Telegraph:

America will use British bases to “dramatically” increase the number of strikes on Iran, the US defence secretary has said.

Pete Hegseth said it was “unfortunate” that Britain did not initially approve the use of its bases – including Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands – from the beginning. “But we got there,” he said.

Due in part to Britain’s decision, other countries’ bases and the deployment of more warplanes, “the amount of firepower over Iran and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically,” Mr Hegseth said.

“When we say more to come, it’s more fighter squadrons, it’s more capabilities, it’s more defensive capabilities, and it’s more bomber pulses more frequently.

Sir Keir Starmer relaxed rules on the US use of British bases after Iran began firing indiscriminately at allies across the region. However, he also called on Donald Trump to reach a negotiated settlement with Iran.

The Prime Minister is under growing pressure over his handling of the crisis and faces accusations that he has not done enough to support allies in the region.

On Thursday, the US president refused to deny reports that he had described Sir Keir as a “loser” and repeated that he was “no Winston Churchill.”

www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/06/iran-war-latest-news-trump-israel-hezbollah/

Athens has served as a protective power for Cyprus since if was divided up following the Turkish invasion. They aren't protecting Akitori which has dozens of Typhoons and surface to air missiles.

So they should protect it against the illegal occupiers of the northern part of the island, not only drones.

Anyway, I find this reasoning the single most deceptive way for Europe and NATO to enter the war.

There were no surface to air systems at Akrotiri before the drone attack, I think that they may have brought in some anti drone systems now, but only after the attack and there is still no anti missile defence (like Patriot) in place.

Also, no Greek wants to fight against Iran for the benefit is is rael and us or Britain.
If the UK wants to maintain the bases they have to be able to protect it themselves and act only after communication with the Cypriot ministry.

Btw the announcement from the ministry that the drones didn't launch from iran was clear.

Why don't they tell us where they launched from?

The were launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Not Isra el?
Known for their false flag operations.

I can clearly see what you're trying to do here and it's across many of the threads.

Spouting deliberate misinformation or conspiracy theories without any evidence, in the hope that if you repeat it enough times then maybe some of it will stick.

Except the conspiracy theories and fake information comes across as either blatant anti semitism or as the dim tin foil hat brigade.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/uk-airbase-raf-akrotiri-cyprus-suspected-drone-strike

Re Akrotiri: No SAMs (haven't been for years) and definitely not "dozens" of Typhoons either ..it's (well?) under a dozen, now joined by a handful of F-35s.

In addition specifically for defending the airfield against drones a pair of Wildcat helicopters equipped with the Marlet missile system arrived yesterday.

https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy-wildcat-helicopters-arrive-to-defend-cyprus/

It's a bit worrying isnt it that all this stuff has had to go to Cyprus ,why isn't it already there ?

Ask HMG....

Interestingly this is the first time since 1799 that there hasn't been a Royal Navy ship in the Mediterranean, which is especially surprising given the US build up in the area during Jan and Feb.

Well actually the Royal Navy did recommend to the Government a few weeks back that they thought it would be a good idea to deploy a ship to the Mediterranean, but were overruled by the Government.

This is just speculation right, otherwise the mod would have made a statement.

I am confused, you think I spread lies, when starmer makes all sorts of claims about deaths of Brits in the area that need to be prevented, in a war where the UK is no participant so that he can take part to the war.

Given trumps latest comments they can beg all they want for any type of assistance

No they were launched from Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to the Cypriot government.

UK’s bases are the UK’s responsibility, they don’t have to attack Iran but we have a minimal responsibility to protect bases and those living near them if we want to keep them.

I also don’t understand all this “negotiated settlement” shit. Iran literally just attacked 13 countries the vast majority of whom had been pressing the American's and Israelis not to attack Iran and who wouldn’t allow the use of US bases to launch strikes. No-one wants to deal with Russia head on because of nukes, how the hell would the IRCG behave if they got one. Aside from the fact that they very explicitly say shit like “once we have a nuke we are going to nuke Israel”.

Our leaders are not serious people at all. They’ve been NGO’d brained. I mentioned this before but I remember listening to a Yemeni who mentioned that the emirates basically had the Houthis cornered and they were about to bomb the port of hudaidah until some stupid ass NGO got involved and Obama pressured the arabs to stop the attack. It was basically an opportunity lost and resulted in the Houthis regaining control and reintroducing slavery. The peace and love brigade literally make things worse a lot of the time.

Jesus christ, Hezbollah said it was them, they take orders from Iran.

Is Trump trying to do the same as he did in Venezuela ? From what I’m reading today he doesn’t want to talk and wants to eliminate all Iranian leadership and potential leadership? Is this just a clearing out exercise to then take control ?

Again this is an interesting insight into how your logic works and indeed the mindset of conspiracy theorists.

It goes along the lines of "you claim that what I am saying is lies but my evidence against this, is a claim that another person on another topic is lying more".

Its like me saying that the earth is flat and if you question this view then I will argue that some people claim that the pyramids were built by aliens.

One bullshit conspiracy theory does not make another bullshit conspiracy theory true.

Please please try and reflect on this today and consider whether it would be healthier for you to stay away from social media and the news.

Did you guys read what trump said about starmer?
He couldn't have used a more derogatory language and his tone is as if he needs to punish his teenage son. Just goes to show how little respect the UK enjoys nowadays from.friends and foes alike.

Also, he pretty much implied they are winning so they don't need UK assistance anymore. There you have it. Why send anymore personnel/equipment?

Also, get ready for new waves of refugees.

Well he could have used more derogatory language, significantly so, in fact I thought he was quite restrained given it’s trump, and I don’t think it was like he was trying to punish a child. I felt he was showing his disdain.

and that’s the thing, Labour is in there fucking it up, be it the economy or the relationship with America. And I actually agree with trump prob the first time ever, Starmer is no Winston Churchill, simply because he is struggling ro bring his party in line, often kowtows to them and it’s always a bad decision.

but that’s not what the thread is about, this was has the potential to go global,but there is not much of Iran left, this morning basically he’s saying it will stop when there is no one left to say I surrender, and it is getting close to that point.

Oh I completely agree. Starmer and his gov has managed to annoy everyone by failing everyone. Honestly I cannot think of one domain labour has made the right choice.

But as you said, this is about the expansion of the war (conflict?, operation?) going global. It already has. Some fifteen countries in the middle east are part of it.

The question is:
what is the benefit for the UK in taking part?

the Uk does not have to take part in strikes, it should protect it’s own bases and the point of having allies is that they plug into a network of resources. By being part of that network it means that at a later date if the Uk wishes to use bases held by their allies they will have to ask permission and the default tends to be yes because we are lucky enough to be allies with the most militarily dominant country on this planet who have a network of bases and allyships we can take advantage of.

British soldiers for example know that if they need to they can reach an american base and be welcomed and safe, even if the americans are not involved in whatever it is we are doing. Or push comes to shove they will come to the Uk’s aid.

This whole thing is based on mutual co-operation. Chucking it in the bin because your party is stupid is not wise.

No it shows the disrespect that Trump has towards Starmer.

Trump is disrespectful to many other current leaders too that are allies of the US.

Yes well said. It was refuelling, hopefully a politician can work out the pros and cons of allowing that v greater action.