France on Thursday announced it had temporarily authorized US military aircraft to use some of its bases in the Middle East, as Western and allied nations move closer to deeper involvement in the escalating conflict.
The move came on the sixth day of coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iran, designated Operation Epic Fury by Washington and Operation Roaring Lion by Israel. The campaign has left hundreds dead and targeted Iran’s leadership, military infrastructure, and nuclear and missile facilities. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the opening strikes on February 28, and Tehran has responded with waves of missiles and drones against Israel and US bases across the Gulf.
European Naval Buildup
Britain authorized the United States to use British bases for defensive operations and dispatched the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon along with counter-drone helicopters to defend Akrotiri. British bases in Cyprus, Bahrain, and Qatar have all been targeted.
Spain announced it would send the frigate Cristobal Colon, currently sailing with the French carrier group in the Baltic, to the eastern Mediterranean. The vessel is expected to reach Crete by March 10. Madrid has otherwise been one of the most vocal critics of the US-Israeli campaign, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez calling the strikes “unjustifiable” and refusing to allow Spanish bases to be used. President Donald Trump responded by threatening to sever trade ties with Spain, triggering a diplomatic dispute that Spanish officials later denied.
The European Union said its Operation Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea had seen a surge in protection requests and would be reinforced with additional ships.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that Europe supports the US action and that the alliance would “defend every inch of NATO territory.”
Turkiye itself was drawn into the conflict on Wednesday when an Iranian ballistic missile fired toward Turkish airspace was intercepted by NATO air defence systems over the eastern Mediterranean.
Canada has not ruled out possible participation. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Canberra that Canada would stand by allies when necessary but emphasized that support was “not a blank cheque.”
New Zealand has also dispatched two military aircraft to support evacuation efforts in the region.
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