United Kingdom
On Sunday, 1 March 2026, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the UK has joined limited defensive operations targeting Iranian missile sites. He made it clear that this move is purely about protecting British nationals and civilians caught up in the region's escalating violence, stating: "We are not joining offensive attacks; this is strictly about collective self-defence."
The Prime Minister noted that while Britain initially stayed out of strikes by the US and Israel—hoping for a diplomatic or nuclear breakthrough—Tehran’s "reckless" actions over the last 48 hours changed the calculus. With Iranian missiles hitting airports and hotels across several countries, the lives of over 200,000 British citizens were put at immediate risk. In one instance, a strike on a base in Bahrain came dangerously close to British personnel.
RAF jets are now patrolling the skies, successfully intercepting drones and projectiles. Following requests from Gulf partners and Washington, the UK is using its regional bases for tightly focused operations to destroy the launchers and storage facilities being used to target neutral countries.
Crucially, Starmer drew a line in the sand: "We will not repeat the mistakes of Iraq," he insisted, adding that this is about regional stability, not regime change. Downing Street’s message remains firm: Britain will do what is necessary to defend its people—nothing more, and nothing less.