Declassified UK: War over, but no signs of lessons learned in Starmer’s Middle East policy

Posted: 9th April 2026

War over, but no signs of lessons learned in Starmer’s Middle East policy 

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire on Tuesday evening, bringing a tentative pause to the illegal war launched by the US and Israel almost six weeks ago.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer welcomed the announcement and expressed relief, and headed to the Gulf on Wednesday to discuss diplomatic efforts to sustain the pause.

The latest episode of US-led aggression in the region again tested Britain’s foreign policy posture under the former human rights lawyer’s leadership.

Much like with Gaza, the response was an exercise in political timidity and underscored the depth of the strategic subordinance to Washington.

Up until the final hour on Tuesday, as President Donald Trump issued an explosive, genocidal threat at Iran, claiming “an entire civilisation will die tonight”, the absence of any response from Keir Starmer and senior ministers was notable.

The lack of public comment from the foreign secretary, deputy prime minister, or defence secretary in the face of potential large-scale escalation suggested not uncertainty, but a settled understanding of Britain’s position.

When the health secretary Wes Streeting was asked on Sky News on Tuesday morning if Trump’s threat to strike civilian infrastructure would be a war crime, he declined to provide a direct answer. In doing so, he reproduced the pattern from nearly three years ago, when Labour figures took to the airwaves after October 7 but could not condemn Israel’s grave violations of international law.

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Instead, the health secretary insisted that the prime minister’s judgement “in keeping Britain out of the war” was “entirely vindicated”.

The claim, however, does not withstand scrutiny and obscures the reality.

From the outset of the war, US military aircraft have transited through UK bases en route to the Middle East. Last week, a Declassified investigation showed US personnel loading cruise missiles onto B-52 bombers at RAF Fairford.

Over the weekend, The New York Times reported that the US fighter jet downed in Iran was likely operating from one of two British airbases: RAF Lakenheath or RAF Feltwell. Within the first few weeks of the war, over 100 fighter jets were deployed to the region from RAF Lakenheath alone.

The government’s obfuscation on British involvement has drawn stern criticism, with both the Lib Dems and the Green Party demanding Starmer block the use of the UK bases.

But where course correction was needed, an eerily familiar playbook unfolded instead. A failure to clearly and consistently condemn illegal acts of aggression, alongside continued military support that risked sustaining them.

Decisions were ultimately made in Washington and faithfully supported in London, which left innocents in Iran paying the fatal price.

Hamza Yusuf

Regular Contributor
Declassified UK