UK focuses on protecting Israel with military presence in Mediterranean, Mideast

By Mehmet Alaca

Continuing its weapon and intelligence support for Israel's attacks in Gaza, the UK is on alert amid reported preparations for retaliation by Iran and its allies following last week’s assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh.

As Israel-Iran tensions point to a possible war, the UK, pledging to protect Israel since the Gaza attacks last Oct. 7, is actively using its air force in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

After the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut, attention is on Iran's retaliation plans, while Israel's allies bolster their military presence.

Britain’s UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward criticized Iran for supporting Houthi attacks on Israel and reaffirmed the UK's commitment to Israel's security.

The UK is also quietly boosting its military presence in the Middle East despite ongoing criticism.

- Around 4,000 UK troops in Mediterranean, Middle East

According to a 2020 study by Declassified UK, which reports on the work of military and intelligence agencies, the British military has 145 military bases in 42 countries around the world.

In 2020, the UK Defense Ministry reported 6,050 British soldiers deployed abroad. While 2,500 were listed as being in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, its 1,400 troops in Iraq were not included in this figure.

The UK has at least 4,000 troops in the region, with numbers varying as needed. Since last Oct. 7, it has increased its Middle East presence, fighting Houthi rebels and supporting Israel against Iranian-backed attacks.

The HMS Prince of Wales, one of the UK's two aircraft carriers, recently went to Scotland to load bombs amid rising Israel-Hezbollah tensions. Experts expect it to be deployed to the Middle East.

In a potential all-out war between Israel and Iran, Britain is expected to support Tel Aviv alongside the US and has numerous bases in the Mediterranean and Gulf countries.

- UK’s most visible presence on Cyprus

Since Oct. 7, there has been a significant increase in Western military logistics activity in Greek Southern Cyprus.

The British military runs much of its Middle East air operations from Southern Cyprus, with 2,290 personnel and 17 sites, including firing ranges and surveillance stations.

According to Haaretz and Declassified UK, British and US forces are aiding Israel’s Gaza attacks with support from the Akrotiri and Dhekelia bases in Southern Cyprus, which make up 3% of the island.

RAF Akrotiri, the main operational base for aircraft in the region, is also used by the British as a permanent joint operations base.

Under a 1960 agreement with Türkiye, Greece, and Cypriot leaders, the Akrotiri and Dhekelia areas are designated sovereign base areas under British jurisdiction, operating outside the access of authorities of Greek Southern Cyprus.

According to Declassified UK, since last October, most of the over 60 flights by British military cargo planes to Israel have departed from Akrotiri, which has sovereign base status near Limassol.

RAF Akrotiri is used for operations against Yemen's Houthis, among others. Declassified UK reported that the Royal Air Force (RAF) conducted 200 surveillance flights over Gaza from December to May, all departing from RAF Akrotiri.

The Defense Ministry denies providing intelligence support to Israel from its Cypriot bases or through the US. Activists criticize these actions as increasing the island's risk.

- Air forces based in UAE, Bahrain

The RAF has a military facility in the United Arab Emirates known as Donnelly Lines.

It also operates at the UK naval support facility in Bahrain known as HMS Jufair.

It also uses Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar for Middle East air operations, working closely with the US military. Established in 1996, Al Udeid is the largest US base in the region and hosts the US Central Command (CENTCOM) regional headquarters.

British deployments in Qatar and the UAE support military operations in Iraq, Syria, and Libya.

- Monitors Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean from Oman

In Saudi Arabia, British soldiers are stationed at 15 non-British bases with a small number of troops, while they maintain a small military presence in Riyadh to monitor air operations of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

In Oman, the UK has a Joint Logistics Support Base and is reported to have a presence at 16 Omani bases.

The logistics base supports UK operations in Iran, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean. The UK also uses joint training areas in Oman.

Some sources claim the UK has 1,000 troops there, but this has not been officially confirmed.

A few British soldiers are stationed at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, where they operate Reaper drones.

In Jordan, the UK has a limited number of troops, and British forces are also likely based within US facilities in Iraq.

While a UK 2020 parliamentary report on Middle East troop numbers excluded Iraq, the military's website states there are over 1,400 British troops in Iraq for operations against Daesh/ISIS.

- UK maintains support for Israel despite war crimes accusations

Despite ongoing attacks on Gaza and accusations of war crimes, the UK's failure to revoke export licenses for arms companies selling to Israel has drawn criticism from both the public and the international community.

Human rights groups and independent organizations criticize the UK for not halting arms sales to Israel, accusing it of complicity in war crimes in Gaza.

According to the UK's Department for Business and Trade, over 100 export licenses for arms and military equipment to Israel have been approved. As of May, there are 345 licenses for exports specifically to Israel.