Britain’s navy will accompany UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz to provide protection after the killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani by US forces.
Defense minister Ben Wallace said he had ordered the warships HMS Montrose and HMS Defender to prepare to return to escort duties for all ships sailing under a British merchant flag.
“The government will take all necessary steps to protect our ships and citizens at this time,” he said.
Wallace said that he spoke with his American counterpart Mark Esper, adding “We urge all parties to engage to de-escalate the situation.”
“Under international law the United States is entitled to defend itself against those posing an imminent threat to their citizens,” he added.
-
US aircraft carrier strike group sails through Strait of Hormuz
The US aircraft carrier strike group Abraham Lincoln sailed through the vital Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, US officials told Reuters, amid simmering ... Middle East -
Pro-Iran militia warns Iraqi security forces to stay away from US bases
Kataeb Hezbollah, a hardline pro-Iran faction in Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi military network, warned Iraqi troops on Saturday to keep their ... Middle East -
Inside the plot by Iran’s Soleimani to attack US forces in Iraq
In mid-October, Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani met with his Iraqi Shia militia allies at a villa on the banks of the Tigris River, looking ... Features -
Britain warns nationals against travel to Iraq and Iran
Britain warned its nationals to avoid all travel to Iraq, outside the Kurdistan region, and to avoid all but essential travel to Iran following the ... World News