The British government confirmed on Monday that the RAF base at Akrotiri, Cyprus, had been hit in a drone strike. The resumption of US and Israeli air attacks on Iran – and Iranian reprisal strikes on its neighbours – also highlights the risks to around 300,000 British citizens in the Persian Gulf.

And there is clearly a danger of wider, direct UK military involvement in what appears to be an escalating regional war. Following the launch of “Operation Epic Fury” – the US and Israel’s coordinated strikes across Iran – on Saturday, the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, confirmed that RAF aicraft were flying missions to protect allies in the region from Iranian retaliation.

Starmer has also allowed the US to use UK military bases in the Middle East, strictly for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites. He initially refused to allow the US to use the joint military base at Diego Garcia, prompting criticism from Donald Trump. The prime minister said his position changed as it became clear Iran’s retaliatory strikes in the region were putting British lives at risk.

Read more: Iran has been attacked by US and Israel when peace was within reach

The UK’s armed forces have long had a presence across the Middle East. Bahrain hosts the United Kingdom Naval Support Facility, which supports Operation Kipion, the Royal Navy’s longstanding maritime security mission in the Persian........

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