Washington DC [US], March 8 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Saturday criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for what he described as insufficient British support for recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran, and noted reports that the UK was considering sending aircraft carriers to West Asia.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that the US does not need allies to join wars after they have already been won. He said, “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
Starmer responded by invoking the UK-US “special relationship” while rejecting a focus on Trump’s comments. Speaking in Parliament, he said American planes are operating from British bases, British jets are shooting down drones and missiles to protect American lives at joint bases, and the countries share intelligence daily. “Hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not the special relationship in action,” he added.
Starmer also defended his decision not to join strikes on Iran, saying he had not seen a lawful basis for such action and that this remained his position.
The UK Ministry of Defence posted operational updates on X on March 7, noting that US forces had begun using British bases for specific defensive operations “to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region, which is putting British lives at risk.”
Earlier, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he was “not happy” with what he called London’s lack of cooperation in the lead-up to strikes on Tehran, describing the UK stance as “very, very uncooperative” and criticising Starmer for “ruining relationships,” saying he was no “Winston Churchill.”
The comments come amid several unfolding developments in West Asia and the Gulf. The Israel Defense Forces said on Sunday that the Israeli Air Force struck several fuel storage complexes in Tehran belonging to the IRGC, saying the facilities distributed fuel to multiple Iranian military entities.
The IDF also reported earlier strikes on two main ballistic missile production sites in Parchin and Shahrud, targeting factories producing explosive materials for missile warheads, facilities making raw materials for missile engines, a missile engine mixing and casting site, and a complex used for research, development, assembly and production of advanced cruise missiles.
The wider security situation has produced spillover effects in the Gulf. Dubai Media Office said authorities confirmed the death of a Pakistani driver in Al Barsha after debris from an aerial interception fell on a vehicle, and reported a minor incident on the facade of a tower in Dubai Marina with no injuries.
Iran’s IRNA, citing the IRGC, claimed that a refinery in Haifa was struck by “Kheibarshekan” missiles. Al Jazeera Breaking reported that Hezbollah said it launched missiles at the Haifa naval base and fired rockets at Kiryat Shmona.
These incidents follow heightened tensions after a joint US-Israel strike on February 28 on Iranian territory that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, provoking a fierce response from Tehran. Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, including targets in Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, widening the conflict in West Asia and increasing risks to civilians and expatriates. (ANI)
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