The US begins using British military bases to carry out operations against Iran. Trump said, "Iran will be hit very strongly today." Iran vows not to surrender.

The UK Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday, March 7, that the US Armed Forces have started using British military bases for a "defensive operation" in the Middle East conflict.

The UK Ministry of Defence stated on the social media platform X: "The US has begun using UK bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran from launching missiles in the region, which would endanger the lives of British people."

A Reuters journalist observed on Saturday that the US Air Force's B-1B Lancer bombers had landed at RAF Fairford airbase in Fairford, located in southwest England.

Previously, London approved on Sunday the use of parts of British military bases, including RAF Fairford airbase and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, to strike Iran's missile facilities. Previously, President Trump had strongly criticized the UK for initially refusing to provide bases for the US-Israeli first strike against Iran.

Prime Minister Starmer defended his decision on Wednesday, saying, "I was not prepared to involve the UK in war without legal grounds or a well-considered and feasible plan."

According to a survey published by the polling firm Survation on Friday, 56% of Britons supported the Prime Minister's initial decision to refuse the use of bases, while 27% thought it was wrong. 49% of respondents believed that the UK should remain neutral and protect only its own interests; 17% supported fighting alongside Israel and the US; and 20% hoped the UK would clearly oppose the war. On Saturday, some protesters organized by peace movements gathered outside the RAF Fairford airbase to demonstrate against the Middle East conflict.

The UK Ministry of Defence also stated that the UK's Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II fighter jets are still on missions over Jordan, Qatar, Cyprus, and the wider region to "protect British and allied interests." These aircraft recently shot down drones flying over Jordan and Iraq. The Ministry also stated that an AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin helicopter is en route to the area to enhance surveillance capabilities.

The UK previously stated that a military base in Cyprus was attacked by an Iranian-designed drone overnight on Sunday to Monday morning. The UK government announced on Thursday that it will deploy more fighters and other military forces to the region, especially to strengthen air defense systems, and plans to send a destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean next week.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Starmer told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the UK is "prepared to support" Saudi Arabia's defense if necessary.

On Saturday, March 7, US President Trump said that the US would "hit Iran very strongly" and threatened to expand the scope of strikes to "areas and people that have never been considered as targets before."

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "Today, Iran will be hit very strongly!"

He added: "Because of Iran's bad behavior, some areas and groups that have never been considered as targets before are now being seriously considered for complete destruction, and they will face certain death."

This harsh statement was made because earlier that day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran would never surrender to Israel and the US. In a speech broadcast on state television, Pezeshkian apologized to these countries for attacks on their Gulf neighbors since the conflict began and stated that Iran would not attack them again unless attacks were launched from within these countries.

In response, Trump said that Iran had "apologized to its Middle Eastern neighbors" and "submitted to them."

He also said, "This commitment was made only because of the continuous attacks by the US and Israel."

Trump concluded: "Iran is no longer the 'tyrant of the Middle East,' but the 'failure of the Middle East,' and this will continue for many decades to come, until it surrenders, or more likely, completely collapses."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1859025067629703/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.