The US did not share exact operational details or timing with the UK ahead of the joint strikes with Israel against Iran, sources told The Guardian.
The US decision to exclude the UK from the official airstrike circuit came alongside Keir Starmer’s decision to deny the US permission to use British military bases for the operation.
Donald Trump has since attacked Starmer for refusing to allow the United States to use military sites, saying the special relationship is no longer what it was and calling him “not Churchill.”
The prime minister has since granted permission for the United States to use British bases in defensive strikes against Iran to degrade its missile capabilities, after Tehran responded to other Gulf countries.
Government sources said the UK was normally aligned with the US on military matters, so it was not possible to say whether it was unusual that Britain had not been officially informed long before the attacks.
A Whitehall source confirmed that the UK knew action was imminent through a build-up of passing equipment and intelligence “through the usual channels”, but was not informed of the exact time or operational details of the attack.
The UK made the decision to evacuate its embassy in Tehran on Friday, indicating it believed the attacks would take place, but gave no details on when they would likely take place over the weekend.
Trump’s request to be able to use British military bases for the strikes also prompted the U.K. to warn that the White House was serious about proceeding with the operation, which killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as 47 other military leaders.
Starmer staunchly defended his approach to Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, after Conservative MP Gareth Bacon said: “The United States is our most important international strategic ally. Does the Prime Minister believe that his faltering and equivocal response to this week’s events in the Middle East has strengthened or weakened that relationship?”
Starmer said British military deployments had been underway for several weeks, in contact with the United States, and told MPs that British forces were operating to protect American lives.
“American planes are operating from British bases,” he said. “That’s the special relationship in action. British aircraft are shooting down drones and missiles to protect American lives in the Middle East at our joint bases. That’s the special relationship in action. Sharing intelligence every day to keep our people safe. That’s the special relationship in action. Holding on to President Trump’s last words is not the special relationship.”
British military assets deployed included radar systems, ground-based air defenses and anti-drone systems, as well as fighter aircraft.
“Since Saturday morning, several F-35s and Typhoons have been in operation, not only in the Middle East but throughout Cyprus,” Starmer added. “More missions were flown during the night, with the Typhoons defending Qatar in particular and the F-35s defending other regional parts.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman later added: “The Prime Minister has been very clear that he will only make decisions that are in Britain’s national interest and that keep British people safe.”
