UK’s Keir Starmer has said the only way to stop the threat was to destroy Iranian missiles “at source in their storage depots or the launchers which are used to fire the missiles”.

“The United States has requested permission to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose.

“We have taken the decision to accept this request, to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved,” he said.