Tensions Between Israel and Iran
As tensions between Israel and Iran reach the brink of war, the UK has reiterated its commitment to protecting Israel at every opportunity since the attacks on the Gaza Strip launched on 7 October 2023. It is increasing its military presence in the region by actively using its air force capabilities in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, in Tehran, Iran, on July 31, and the killing of Fuad Shukur, a senior commander of Lebanese Hezbollah, in an Israeli attack in Beirut the day before, have raised concerns about Tehran’s preparations for retaliation. In light of these developments, Israel’s allies are closely monitoring the situation and strengthening their military fortifications.
Some members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened an emergency session to condemn the assassination of Haniyeh, while the US and UK blamed Iran for the incident. The UK’s permanent representative to the UN, Barbara Woodward, criticized Iran, noting that the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen were continuing their attacks on Israel. Woodward also argued that the UK’s commitment to Israel’s security was unwavering and that Israel had the right to self-defense.
UK Military Presence in the Middle East
Constantly criticized for its historical role in political turmoil and conflict in the Middle East, the UK has been secretly increasing its military presence in the region. According to a study conducted by British Declassified UK in 2020, the British army has a total of 145 military bases in 42 countries around the world. In 2020, the Ministry of Defense announced the number of soldiers serving abroad as 6,050. Although it is stated that the number of soldiers in the Mediterranean and the Middle East is approximately 2,500, this number does not include the 1,400 soldiers in Iraq. Based on this data, it is estimated that the total number of soldiers in the region is at least 4,000.
Since October 7, the UK has been increasing its influence in the Middle East, fighting the Houthis in the Red Sea and supporting Israel’s defense against attacks by Iranian-backed groups. One of Britain’s two aircraft carriers, the “HMS Prince of Wales”, has recently gone to Scotland to load bombs amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Experts believe the 65,000-ton warship will be deployed to the Middle East.
Cyprus and Military Logistics
In the event of a possible all-out war, the UK is expected to support Tel Aviv, together with the US. It has many bases in the region, especially in the Mediterranean and Gulf countries. One of the places where the UK is most visible is Cyprus. In the wake of Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, and a possible military operation against Lebanon, significant increases in the military logistics activities of Western countries in the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) have been observed.
It is known that the British army conducts a significant portion of its air operations in the Middle East from Cyprus. There are 2,290 military personnel permanently stationed on the island. There are a total of 17 separate deployments in Cyprus, including firing ranges and spy stations. According to publications such as Haaretz and Declassified UK, British and US forces are supporting Israel’s attacks on Gaza with weapons and intelligence from the Akrotiri and Dhekelia bases in the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus.
These two bases, maintained by the UK, correspond to 3% of the island’s territory. The main operating base for aircraft in the region, “RAF Akrotiri”, is used by the UK as a permanent joint operating base. The UK, which is the guarantor in the Cyprus issue, has defined the “sovereign areas” as Akrotiri and Dhekelia under the agreement it made with Turkey, Greece and the leaders of the Cypriot community in 1960, and they are subject to British jurisdiction. These bases operate outside the reach of the Greek Cypriot authorities.
Britain’s Military Activities and Criticism
According to the news on the Declassified UK website, British military cargo planes have carried out more than 60 flights to Israel since October 2023. Most of these flights have been from Akrotiri Air Base, a “sovereign base” near the city of Limassol. RAF Akrotiri, a 40-minute flight from Tel Aviv, is also used in airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen. According to Declassified UK, the Royal Air Force (RAF) conducted 200 surveillance flights over Gaza between December and May. All of these surveillance flights took off from RAF Akrotiri and remained in the air for around six hours.
The UK’s claims that it provides intelligence support to Israel, either directly or indirectly through the US, from facilities in Mount Troodos, Akrotiri and Agios Nikolaos have been consistently denied by the UK Ministry of Defence. However, activities have raised concerns that these actions by the UK and the US risk making Cyprus a target.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) has a military facility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) known as Donnelly Lines. It also operates from the UK Naval Support Facility known as HMS Jufair in RAF Bahrain. The RAF also uses Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar for air operations in the Middle East, where it cooperates closely with the US military. Al Udeid is the largest US base in the region and also hosts the regional headquarters of the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
British deployments in Qatar and the UAE support military operations in Iraq, Syria and Libya. British troops maintain small numbers at 15 bases in Saudi Arabia that are not directly owned by the British military, while there is a small military presence in Riyadh to monitor Saudi-led coalition air operations in Yemen. In Oman, there is a UK Joint Logistics Support Base. British troops are reported to be present at 16 of Oman’s bases. This logistics base is used to facilitate British military operations in Iran, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
The British army also has joint training areas in the country. Some sources claim that Britain has 1,000 soldiers in Oman, but this information has not yet been officially confirmed. It is stated that a small number of British soldiers are stationed in Kuwait and that the “Reaper” drones are operating from the Ali Al Salem air base. It is estimated that Britain has a limited number of soldiers in Jordan and that there are US bases in Iraq.
UK Support for War Crimes
Despite Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and warnings of war crimes since 7 October 2023, the UK has not terminated the export licenses it has given to companies selling arms to the country. This has drawn criticism from both the public and the international community. Human rights organizations and independent organizations in the country have criticized the UK for being “complicit in Israel’s war crimes” on the grounds that it has not stopped selling arms to Israel, which is violating international humanitarian law in Gaza.
According to data released by the UK Department of Trade and Industry, more than 100 export licenses for the sale of arms, military equipment and other controlled items from the country to Israel have been approved since October 7, 2023. As of May, the number of existing arms and military equipment export licenses “with a destination specified as Israel” was 345.
