Defence policy – Page 2 – War Watch

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Britain not ruling out future strikes on Iran missile sites, officials indicate
ByDan Sabbagh Defence and security editor March 4, 2026March 4, 2026

‘We just don’t know what will happen,’ western officials say, as UK bases prepare for arrival of US heavy bombersUK politics live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesBritain has not ruled out participating in future strikes against Iranian…

Read More Britain not ruling out future strikes on Iran missile sites, officials indicate
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Cyprus | Defence policy | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | John Healey | Middle East and north Africa | Military | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Politics | UK news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

UK sends Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon to Cyprus
ByDan Sabbagh Defence and security editor March 3, 2026March 3, 2026

Keir Starmer says vessel, which will arrive in about a week, will help defend bases on island after RAF Akrotiri was targeted by dronesUK politics live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesA Royal Navy destroyer is expected in Cyprus next w…

Read More UK sends Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon to Cyprus
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Starmer says UK will not join ‘regime change from the skies’ on Iran
ByJessica Elgot Deputy political editor March 2, 2026

PM defends use of UK bases for defensive action but says Britain has ‘learned the lessons from Iraq’ on need for ‘thought-through plan’US-Israel war on Iran – live updatesKeir Starmer has said the UK will not join offensive strikes by Israel and the US…

Read More Starmer says UK will not join ‘regime change from the skies’ on Iran
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What is the extent of the UK’s involvement in the Middle East war?
ByDan Sabbagh Defence and security editor March 2, 2026

What is likely to happen now that the US has been given permission to use British bases for a ‘specific and limited defensive purpose’ US-Israel war on Iran – live updatesWhat we know so far on day three of the Iran warBritain has rapidly been dragged …

Read More What is the extent of the UK’s involvement in the Middle East war?
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Few will mourn leader of ‘evil’ regime Ali Khamenei, says UK defence secretary
ByRowena Mason Whitehall editor March 1, 2026

John Healey says there is ‘real and rising threat’ from Iran as US and Israeli military action divides political opinionUS-Israel war on Iran – latest updatesThe UK defence secretary has said few will mourn Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, whose de…

Read More Few will mourn leader of ‘evil’ regime Ali Khamenei, says UK defence secretary
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RAF jets flying defensive missions after US-Israeli attack on Iran, Starmer says
ByDan Sabbagh Defence and security editor February 28, 2026February 28, 2026

PM says British planes ‘in the sky today’ to protect allies in Middle East from retaliatory strikes by TehranUS-Israeli attack on Iran – live updatesUS and Israel strikes on Iran: what we know so farKeir Starmer said RAF fighter jets were flying “in th…

Read More RAF jets flying defensive missions after US-Israeli attack on Iran, Starmer says
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Donald Trump turns against UK Chagos Islands plan again
ByPeter Walker and Dan Sabbagh February 19, 2026

President suggests US could use Diego Garcia airfield for potential strikes against IranDonald Trump changed his mind on supporting the Chagos Islands deal because the UK will not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran, the …

Read More Donald Trump turns against UK Chagos Islands plan again
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Trump changed mind on Chagos deal ‘after UK blocked use of Diego Garcia for Iran strikes’
ByPeter Walker and Dan Sabbagh February 19, 2026February 19, 2026

US president links deal with military strikes against Iran in connection with Tehran’s nuclear ambitionsDonald Trump changed his mind on supporting the Chagos Islands deal because the UK will not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US stri…

Read More Trump changed mind on Chagos deal ‘after UK blocked use of Diego Garcia for Iran strikes’
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Britain unlikely to assist US in possible attack on Iran – but may support Gulf if Tehran retaliates
ByDan Sabbagh Defence and security editor January 29, 2026

Deployment of RAF Typhoon squadron to Qatar signals willingness to help protect country from counterattackBritain is unlikely to assist the US in an attack on Iran but a deployment of RAF Typhoons to Qatar last week signals a willingness to assist regi…

Read More Britain unlikely to assist US in possible attack on Iran – but may support Gulf if Tehran retaliates
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Protests expected as 51 Israeli arms makers among exhibitors at London trade fair
ByDan Sabbagh September 8, 2025

Campaign Against Arms Trade says UK government has hit ‘peak complicity in genocide’ in allowing the firms to exhibitFifty-one Israeli arms makers and the US defence giant behind the F-35 fighters used to bomb Gaza are among the 1,600 exhibitors at the…

Read More Protests expected as 51 Israeli arms makers among exhibitors at London trade fair