Some UK military personnel are being withdrawn from the al-Udeid airbase in Qatar, where the RAF is stationed alongside American forces, *The i Paper* understands.
Earlier it was reported that the US is also withdrawing some service personnel from the base amid an expectation that US strikes could be launched against Iran.
Meanwhile, an RAF tanker departed the RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus headed to al-Udeid airbase, [according to reports](https://x.com/ArmchairAdml/status/2011458249795449113), although flight data appeared to show it then headed back toward Europe.
I don’t see why the UK would be involved, but us moving some troops says little in these situations. A lot of the time it’s the military moving people, to keep them safe, due to tension and not a political call.
If the hardware moves in any significant numbers we will know. Probably to Cyprus.
ritshpatidar on
What would be the objective of the attack ? If it is to change the government then the situation in Iran must be like 75-80% of people hate their government.
This whole Iran thing will be very interesting to see, because if the Iran govt falls then there will be no one in the Middle East to challenge the USA, Iran’s natural resources will be in the market once it becomes stable.
I want to know what Saudi Arabia thinks.
itz_MaXii on
Same procedure as last year. Even from Israel as they did a “training flight” with their Air Force 1 equivalent today to Crete and back. They did the same before striking Iran in the 12 day war. I’d bet something is happening this weekend.
Astrocoder on
Its too late now. The momentum has swung and the protests are dying down as the regime murdered possibly between 10-20k from various sources.
ouijanonn on
As usual, where the US leads, the UK will obediently follow….
Inthemiddle_ on
I’m surprised Israel hasn’t been biting at the bit to take advantage of this situation. They fully have the capabilities themselves but they’ve been fairly quiet lately.
Wambo74 on
Stopping the protest is existential for the regime. I don’t see absorbing any damage the US will do as a worse outcome in their eyes as letting the people oust them. The only meaningful thing that can be done is eliminate the leadership, one hellfire or tomahawk at a time.
8 Comments
Some UK military personnel are being withdrawn from the al-Udeid airbase in Qatar, where the RAF is stationed alongside American forces, *The i Paper* understands.
Earlier it was reported that the US is also withdrawing some service personnel from the base amid an expectation that US strikes could be launched against Iran.
Meanwhile, an RAF tanker departed the RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus headed to al-Udeid airbase, [according to reports](https://x.com/ArmchairAdml/status/2011458249795449113), although flight data appeared to show it then headed back toward Europe.
US diplomats said the country was removing some troops from key bases in the Middle East as a precaution given [heightened regional tensions](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/trump-zeroing-irans-nuclear-facilities-risks-us-4166571?ico=in-line_link).
[Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/why-trigger-happy-trump-think-twice-wading-iran-next-4161609?srsltid=AfmBOoq8Cmae0WQpqwGrExHQxcbRUZi23pN5WpRFbJAve5eMMytcxvX4&ico=in-line_link) to take action in the country following a [brutal Iranian government crackdown on protesters](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/why-irans-brutal-leader-hang-on-bloody-end-4163260?ico=in-line_link) that has led to the deaths of at least 2,500 people.
Al-Udeid, Washington’s [largest base in the region](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/the-36-us-bases-on-the-frontline-of-iranian-retribution-3764309?srsltid=AfmBOop68TS1_vlrCXhhralj41Km3WhuN6UzBihe7QX8J2_wVi1d-2X-&ico=in-line_link) housing around 10,000 American troops, was [targeted by Iranian missiles in June](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/uk-defend-usallies-iran-missiles-qatar-iraq-3766594?srsltid=AfmBOorDaEtCCZmvKVXvItgIVBY58xyXUwsecmAGqqIqogzmIt-rzR5r&ico=in-line_link) after the US strike on its nuclear sites.
“It’s a posture change and not an ordered evacuation,” one diplomat told Reuters, adding that they did not know the reason for the change.
Last year, some personnel and families were moved off US bases in the Middle East a week before the [US launched air strikes on Iran](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/everything-we-know-us-attack-on-iran-so-far-3763890?srsltid=AfmBOopcVanyzW_v5pKIQHy0wyv0YT9C7W7yqQOicaDcvyAEwk6CwV1I&ico=in-line_link).
The International Media Office of the State of [Qatar](https://inews.co.uk/topic/qatar?srsltid=AfmBOore_n22bmtot2JLQqfWA3HSsl5HVO67ES7GcQm9ZSNfwhWqMXMm&ico=in-line_link) said the measures to remove troops at al-Udeid “are being undertaken in response to the current regional tensions”.
I don’t see why the UK would be involved, but us moving some troops says little in these situations. A lot of the time it’s the military moving people, to keep them safe, due to tension and not a political call.
If the hardware moves in any significant numbers we will know. Probably to Cyprus.
What would be the objective of the attack ? If it is to change the government then the situation in Iran must be like 75-80% of people hate their government.
This whole Iran thing will be very interesting to see, because if the Iran govt falls then there will be no one in the Middle East to challenge the USA, Iran’s natural resources will be in the market once it becomes stable.
I want to know what Saudi Arabia thinks.
Same procedure as last year. Even from Israel as they did a “training flight” with their Air Force 1 equivalent today to Crete and back. They did the same before striking Iran in the 12 day war. I’d bet something is happening this weekend.
Its too late now. The momentum has swung and the protests are dying down as the regime murdered possibly between 10-20k from various sources.
As usual, where the US leads, the UK will obediently follow….
I’m surprised Israel hasn’t been biting at the bit to take advantage of this situation. They fully have the capabilities themselves but they’ve been fairly quiet lately.
Stopping the protest is existential for the regime. I don’t see absorbing any damage the US will do as a worse outcome in their eyes as letting the people oust them. The only meaningful thing that can be done is eliminate the leadership, one hellfire or tomahawk at a time.