The war pitting the United States and Israel against Iran, which began over the weekend, is threatening to drag in one major European player: the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom is the European power with the most military bases near the Persian Gulf region. British Prime Minister Kier Starmer initially refused to participate in the attack against Iran, a move that drew criticism from US President Donald Trump. But eventually, the UK said Washington could use its bases for “defensive” operations against Iranian missile launch facilities and stockpiles.

That decision has raised questions about what military capabilities the UK could offer to support the Washington-led operation.

The UK has a military presence in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It also has two bases in Cyprus, one of which was hit by an Iranian-made drone on Sunday.

The Akrotiri base in Cyprus, which serves as a hub for the UK’s air force operations in the Middle East, has recently been strengthened with six additional F-35 stealth fighter jets, radars and counter-drone systems. The British military has over 3,000 of its personnel stationed across the two bases on the Mediterranean island.

British jets from Akrotiri and the American Al Udeid airbase in Qatar have been tasked with shooting down drones and slower missiles around the region.

Previous reports indicate that the UK can operate its Reaper drones from an Air Base in Kuwait.

In Oman, which lies near the now-contested Strait of Hormuz, the British navy operates a logistics base, while the air force can use the Al Musannah airbase.

The Brits aren’t the only Europeans in the region, however. The French are also stationed in the UAE with around 900 military and civilian personnel. Those base stations house some of the country’s Rafale fighter jets, as well as artillery and tanks.

Germany has no military bases in the Middle East, but it provides logistical support in Jordan and Iraq to help the fight against ISIS. Both field camps were attacked on Sunday by Iran, although the German military command said that they were not the immediate target.

(ibe, cm)