UK forces carrying out strikes on Iranian missile sites would be legal, David Lammy insisted today.
The Deputy PM fuelled speculation that the RAF could step up involvement in the US-Israeli operation – despite initially barring the use of UK bases.
Mr Lammy also blundered by wrongly stating that Cyprus, where a crucial military site is located, is a member of Nato.
The comments came after Defence Secretary John Healey refused to rule out direct attacks, saying the government was willing to ‘adapt’ to circumstances on the ground.
Keir Starmer has ruled out joining ‘offensive’ action despite facing the public wrath of Donald Trump – who has dismissed him as ‘no Churchill’.
But the UK is already letting the US use British bases for ‘defensive’ strikes against missile facilities in Iran.
And allies have been heaping pressure on Sir Keir to take a more active role.
Deputy PM David Lammy fuelled speculation that the RAF could step up involvement in the US-Israeli operation – despite initially barring the use of UK bases
The comments came after Defence Secretary John Healey refused to rule out direct attacks, saying the government was willing to ‘adapt’ to circumstances on the ground
Mr Lammy told BBC Breakfast: ‘It is entirely legal to protect our people and protect our staff, and therefore all operational capability is available to us in those circumstances.’
He said the UK had the satellite and intelligence capability to identify Iranian sites.
Asked if the UK could fire at an Iranian base in anticipation of it launching an attack, he said: ‘It is my understanding that that would be legal.’
The UK has been heavily criticised by allies over its ‘weak’ response to the crisis.
Critics say the country has been ‘humiliated’ by the failure to protect the crucial RAF Akrotiri base on Cyprus, which has been targeted with Iranian drones.
Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week – leaving the UK relying on French, Spanish and Greek vessels to provide cover.
Asked if he was embarrassed by the situation, Mr Lammy told Sky News: ‘Absolutely not… we have F-35s, Typhoons in the sky taking down missiles as we speak and that has happened over Jordan, it’s happened over Qatar and of course, we will support nationals in the region.’
The former Foreign Secretary added: ‘It’s also right to say that we co-ordinate with allies, the French, the Germans.
‘Cyprus is a Nato ally, so we co-ordinate also with other teams and other close allies on how we equip the area.
‘HMS Dragon will be in the region in the coming weeks to further bolster and further support our air defences.’
Cyprus is not a member of Nato.
Kemi Badenoch said she would support RAF jets striking Iranian missile launch sites.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, she said: ‘That is the right thing to do. Otherwise, we are allowing our service personnel to be put in danger. We have to think about them.’
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Donald Trump has not denied calling Sir Keir Starmer a ‘loser’ as he continues to fume at the Prime Minister for failing to back his military action against Iran
Ms Badenoch added: ‘If this was a nuclear attack, God forbid, it would be too late.
‘You can’t always wait for people to attack you. Sometimes you have to make sure that you get there first to stop their ability to hurt your citizens.’
She said she would like to see a ‘de-escalation’, but said: ‘We are in this war whether we like it or not because we have put bases in other people’s countries and we need to protect them.
‘And what I’m worried about is that our Government looks afraid to do anything and just wants to sort of make it go away, and we need to be stronger than that.’
