Tehran Warns UK Can Become ‘Legitimate Target’; Is US-Iran Conflict Expanding?

Amid ongoing tensions with the US, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday warned that British military bases could become “legitimate targets” if they are used by Washington to launch attacks against Iran. The warning came as Tehran claimed that the US has changed its military strategy, shifting from naval missile strikes to long-range bomber operations.

IRGC Claims US Shifted From Naval Strikes To Bombers

In a statement, the IRGC said the US military had initially relied on cruise missiles fired from naval vessels in the Indian Ocean. It claimed that after those resources were exhausted, Washington moved to using long-range bombers. The IRGC said, “After the official resumption of the war, the invading US military had been using cruise missiles launched from its naval vessels in the Indian Ocean."

It further added, “However, after those ships exhausted their missile stockpiles, yesterday it resorted to using B-1 bombers flying from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom." The IRGC’s statement specifically mentioned RAF Fairford, a British air base, alleging that it was used by US B-1 bombers for operations against Iran.

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Why Is UK Labelled As Target?

Warning countries that allow their bases to be used for attacks, the IRGC said, “As officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have also stated, any base used to launch attacks against Iranian territory is considered a legitimate target for us." Earlier, Iran had also warned that countries hosting US military facilities could be pulled into the conflict. Notably, Tehran has already attacked several countries hosting US bases, including Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Earlier in the day, the US military announced that it conducted a 12th night of strikes against Iran as both sides increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure. US Central Command said the attacks were designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters,” as the Americans push to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of international shipping.

ALSO READ: US Airstrikes On Iran Escalate As Civilian Infrastructure Faces Risk; Tehran Vows Strong Retaliation

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