London, United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has not authorised the United States to carry out strike missions from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus as reports said Iran fired two missiles toward the British sovereign base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Neither missile reached the base.
Reports of missile launches
The BBC said it understood reports of the missile launches to be accurate after speaking to separate sources who confirmed the account. The Wall Street Journal first reported the incident, citing unnamed US officials.
UK response
The UK Ministry of Defence has neither confirmed nor denied that two Iranian missiles were fired toward the base. In a statement, it said Iran’s reckless attacks across the region are “a threat to British interests and British allies.”
Authorisation for operations from Diego Garcia
London has authorised the US military to conduct what it describes as defensive bombing missions from Diego Garcia, though there are no reports that any such missions have yet been carried out from the base.
US operations from the UK and restrictions in Cyprus
The US has conducted bombing missions from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus remains off-limits for US offensive operations.
What impact do you think these restrictions and authorisations could have on regional security?