Britain calls US a steadfast ally and supports US retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria

The United Kingdom has given its support to Washington's retaliatory strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Iraq and Syria, calling the United States its "steadfast ally".

On Friday, US forces conducted air strikes in Iraq and Syria on more than 85 targets of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  (IRGC) and its affiliated militias.

"The UK and US are steadfast allies. We wouldn't comment on their operations, but we support their right to respond to attacks," a UK Government spokesperson said.

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"We have long condemned Iran's destabilising activity throughout the region, including its political, financial and military support to a number of militant groups," they added.

US Central Command released footage on Friday showing a B-1 bomber taking off from a runway after the strikes were launched in Iraq and Syria.

The footage was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, accompanied by a statement from CentCom Commander General Michael Kurilla, that said the IRGC "continues to represent a direct threat to the stability of Iraq, the region and the safety of Americans".

The strikes are reported to be the first in a multi-tiered response by US President Joe Biden's administration to the recent attack by Iranian-backed militants that killed three US troops.

More US military operations are expected in the coming days.

While the US strikes did not target sites inside Iran, they signal a further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East from Israel's more than three-month-old war with Hamas militants in Gaza.