Britain said on Friday that its armed forces are prepared to defend the country after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any country allowing US bombers to operate from its territory could become a legitimate target.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the IRGC claimed that the United States had launched bombing missions against Iran from RAF Fairford in southwest England and warned that any military base used to support such operations would be considered a legitimate target.
The warning came after the newly appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was informed last week that the UK had reaffirmed an existing agreement permitting the United States to use British military bases for what London described as the collective self-defence of the region.
Responding to the Iranian warning, a UK government spokesperson said Britain’s armed forces remained fully prepared to defend the country.
“Our armed forces are ready to keep the United Kingdom safe from any kind of attacks, whether it’s on our soil or from abroad,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Britain maintains a layered air and missile defence system, supported by the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, working in close coordination with NATO allies.