'No information' on whether US military used Scottish airports during Iranian strikes

Since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Saturday, 787 people have been killed in the country, according to the Red Crescent.

Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on Saturday in the US-Israeli strikes, and since then Tehran has retaliated with a wave of attacks across the region.

The UK Government, which is currently arranging charter flights to bring UK citizens in the Middle East back home, has also agreed to a US request to use British military bases for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites.

However the Scottish Government says it has received no information on whether publicly-owned airports in Scotland like Prestwick and Wick John O’Groats were used by the US military.

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Military aircraft regularly use Prestwick Airport, which was nationalised in 2013, for refuelling and rest facilities. Meanwhile US military aircraft landed at Wick John O’Groats Airport earlier this year during an operation to seize a Russian-bound tanker which the US accused of breaking sanctions by shipping Iranian oil.

External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said: “Glasgow Prestwick Airport and some Highlands and Islands airports are important stopovers for air forces including the RAF and others like the US, and have been for many years in line with UK law.

“Prestwick is a civilian facility and there are a plethora of military bases available to the US in the Middle East.

“We have no information that any aircraft passing through Scotland were involved in operations against Iran.”

He said the Scottish Government is trying to get clarity on this from the UK Government.

Mr Robertson added: “I believe it is essential for all nations to abide by the rules-based system and the events in Iran don’t suggest the US and Israel have done this.

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“The Prime Minister has said that UK military bases shouldn’t be used in offensive operations against Iran, and the same should be said for non-military bases - therefore, we are seeking clarity that no aircraft through Scottish Government-owned airports are part of the offensive operations against Iran.”

Others within the chamber voiced disappointment in the Scottish Government’s stance, with Green MSP Patrick Harvie saying it was “simply not good enough to say it is unclear” whether or not the US and Israel have complied with international law.

Labour MSP Katy Clark added: “Almost 800 Iranians have been killed because of the strikes undertaken by the US and Israel, which is clearly in defiance of international law, has inflamed regional tensions and caused the loss of life.”

She asked Scottish ministers to directly voice its opposition to the strikes to the US consulate in Edinburgh.

Mr Robertson also told MSPs in Holyrood that the SNP government has been in daily contact with the UK Government since the strikes began on Saturday.

He reminded Scots who are currently in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar or the United Arab Emirates to register their presence with the UK Foreign Office.

Mr Robertson added: “Some are delighted to see the demise of a dictator in Iran who has the blood of tens of thousands of Iranians on his hands, but at the same time there are people dying.

“I give assurance that the Scottish Government is working with the UK Government for the Scottish residents who find themselves in the impacted region.”