British troops caught in “The war of losers”

Iran’s strikes on US military bases in the Middle East are a blunt reminder that British servicemen and women deployed in the region face real risks.

Professor Michael Clarke assesses the dangers while former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe explains the options for British ships which had been standing by for a possible protection role in the Strait of Hormuz.

Often UK and US bases are co-located, including Bahrain which a US Navy Admiral has told his personnel they won’t be returning to “any time soon”.

Retired Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall, who led the creation of the Royal Navy base in Bahrain, explains the potential impact for a facility designed to operate independently of the US but also primarily intended for joint operations.