UK joins Iran War, allows use of bases by US to strike Iran targets

The UK has agreed to allow the United States to use British bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously allowed US forces to use the bases only for defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles that put British interests or lives at risk.

On Friday, Downing Street said ministers approved an expansion of the targets to help protect ships in the strait – a vital oil shipping channel - and still on the basis of "collective self-defence".

US President Donald Trump said the UK "should have acted a lot faster", while Iran's foreign minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi claimed Sir Keir was "putting British lives in danger".

The UK will still not be directly involved in the strikes and Downing Street said "the principles behind the UK's approach to the conflict remain the same".

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the decision was the "mother of all U-turns" in a post on social media site X.

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller said the government's decision showed the UK was "being drawn further and further down Trump's slippery slope".

He called on Sir Keir to allow Parliament to vote on the terms of the agreement with the US for their use of UK bases.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said it was "another worrying escalation" and said MPs "must be given a vote on our involvement".

The UK bases used by the US have been RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said of the UK's decision: "It's been a very late response from the UK.

"Surprised because the relationship is so good but this has never happened before. They were really pretty much our first ally all over the world."

The US president earlier called Nato allies "cowards" for refusing to offer warships to reopen the shipping channel, and claimed reopening the strait would be a "simple" military task with "little risk".

UK military planners have joined the US Central Command to look at options for getting tankers through the strait, which has been effectively closed off by the threat of Iranian attacks in retaliation for the US-Israeli bombing campaign.

Just under 100 ships have passed through the strait since the start of March, according to data analysed by BBC Verify.

Before the war, about 138 ships passed through the strait each day, carrying one fifth of the global oil supply, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre.

A Downing Street spokesperson said of Friday's discussions by ministers: "They agreed that Iran's reckless strikes, including on Red Ensign vessels and those of our close allies and Gulf partners, risked pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the economic impact being felt in the UK and around the world.

"They confirmed that the agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz."

Downing Street added ministers want "urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war".

The expansion comes after Iran's foreign minister warned the UK it views its choice to let the US use British bases as "participation in aggression".

In his account of the call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Araghchi said he had also criticised the "negative and biased" approach of the UK and demanded that it cease any co-operation with the United States.

The Foreign Office said Cooper had condemned Iran's "reckless attacks" and its "disruption and closure of the Strait of Hormuz".

A spokesperson said she had also called for "an immediate comprehensive moratorium on all attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations".

Araghchi later wrote on X: "Ignoring his own people, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran.

"Iran will exercise its right to self-defence."

Two suspected armed robbers nabbed in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbery gang members during a routine stop-and-search operation in the Oba-ile axis of Akure North Local Government Area.

The suspects, identified as Simeon George and Moses Daniel, were apprehended by police operatives working in collaboration with the local vigilante group in the area.

According to a statement on Friday by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, the officers recovered a “toy gun and a headlamp” concealed in the suspects’ bag during the search.

He stated that preliminary investigations showed the suspects could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the items found in their possession, raising suspicion about their intentions.

“The suspects have since been taken into custody, while the recovered items have been secured as exhibits. The case has been transferred to the appropriate investigative unit for further examination to determine whether they are linked to any criminal activities,” Abayomi said.

He added that the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, has reaffirmed the command’s commitment to proactive policing through patrols, intelligence gathering, and stop-and-search operations aimed at ensuring public safety.

Lawal also commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for his support and leadership, noting that it has boosted the morale and operational effectiveness of officers in the state.

The police boss urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to aid efforts in combating crime. (The Nation)

Guardiola gives verdict on CAF’s stripping of Senegal of AFCON 2025 trophy, declaration of Morocco as champions

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has described the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title to Morocco as “a surprise.”

The City boss reacted after CAF’s Appeal Board overturned the original final result on March 17, a ruling that has sharply divided opinion across the football world.

Earlier this week, CAF annulled Senegal’s 1–0 victory in the final, citing a breach of Articles 82 and 84 following the team’s walk-off in protest of a stoppage-time penalty decision.

The match was subsequently recorded as a 3–0 forfeit in favour of Morocco. Guardiola joins a growing list of prominent figures questioning the ruling, including Ahmed Hossam Mido, Roger Milla, and George Weah.

Reacting to the development, Guardiola offered a measured but pointed response.

“It’s a surprise,” he said. “I don’t have a proper opinion because I don’t know the reason why. I didn’t read, didn’t see.”

The Spaniard suggested such decisions are often made away from public scrutiny.

“But it’s a decision made behind the scenes. What happens everywhere is what we see; it’s not now, it always happens behind the scenes, and you don’t see their faces.”

The final, played on January 18, initially saw Senegal secure a 1–0 win after a tense and controversial contest.

Anthony Nlebem

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

Senegal moves AFCON trophy to military base, protected by soldiers

Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) triumph has been thrown into fresh controversy following reports that head coach Pape Thiaw moved the trophy to a military base amid an ongoing dispute with Morocco over the title.

According to multiple reports, the trophy was taken to a secure military facility where it is now under armed guard. Soldiers were reportedly allowed to take photographs with the silverware, in what observers see as a symbolic move to assert Senegal’s claim to the title.

The development comes after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded Morocco a technical victory in the final, overturning Senegal’s on-field success and naming the North African side champions, a decision that has sparked outrage in Dakar.

“Senegal Coach took the AFCON to their military base today. It’s now positioned in the centre of their military camp.

Protecting what rightfully belongs to them” Topskills sports UK wrote on their X page

Senegalese football authorities have rejected the ruling and filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), insisting the title was “won on merit” and should not be decided administratively.

The dispute has drawn strong reactions from players and officials. Captain Kalidou Koulibaly has publicly challenged CAF’s decision, while officials within the Senegalese federation have maintained that surrendering the trophy before a final legal ruling would be premature.

Morocco, however, have accepted the decision, with players and officials celebrating the verdict as confirmation of their championship status.

The controversy has raised broader concerns about governance and disciplinary consistency within African football, with analysts warning that the outcome of the case could set a major precedent for future competitions.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe has called for calm, promising transparency and fairness as the governing body comes under increasing scrutiny.

The AFCON, widely regarded as Africa’s premier football tournament, has grown in global importance in recent years, making the dispute particularly sensitive for the sport’s reputation on the continent.

With the case now before CAS, the final ownership of the trophy remains uncertain, as African football awaits a decisive ruling in one of its most contentious disputes in recent history. (The Guardian, but headline reworked)

IGP Olatunji Disu Hands Over N2.43 Billion Cheques To Families Of 1,075 Fallen Police Officers

On Wednesday March 18, 2026, Inspector General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu presented cheques worth over N2.43 billion to 1,075 families of police officers who died while serving the country. 

The money comes from the Nigeria Police Force's Group Life Assurance Scheme and the IGP Family Welfare Scheme. 

These schemes help provide financial support to the next of kin of officers killed in active service.

The total amount disbursed was N2,435,421,584.11. It covers insurance policy years from 2018 up to 2026, including some old outstanding claims.

This payment is part of ongoing efforts by the police leadership to look after the welfare of officers and their families. 

Similar disbursements have happened in past years under previous IGPs, with billions paid out over time to honor fallen heroes and ease the burden on their loved ones.