The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Drone Wars UK, and Oxfordshire Peace Campaign will gather outside the main gates of RAF Fairford at 1pm on Saturday, March 7. This protest comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has allowed the US to strike Iranian missile sites from British bases, with officials planning an unprecedented rescue operation for UK citizens in the Gulf. RAF Fairford is a key US Air Force installation that has regularly been used by America to launch attacks in the Middle East and beyond.
Sir Keir initially refused the US permission to launch air strikes on Iran from US bases on British territory, but after an initial attack, the PM changed his mind and gave permission for so-called 'defensive airstrikes'. Sophie Bolt, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament general secretary, stated that these reckless, illegal attacks on Iran by the US and Israel are dragging the entire Middle East and beyond into a catastrophic war. She added that British bases like RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall were vital in the buildup to this aggression, and now Keir Starmer has given permission for RAF Fairford to be used by US long-range bombers.
Chris Cole, Director of Drone Wars, said these US and Israeli air strikes on Iran are completely unlawful and the UK should be standing vociferously opposed to them. He added that by giving the US permission to use bases such as RAF Fairford for further attacks, the UK is becoming complicit in an unlawful war and opening itself up to disastrous consequences. The Government’s failure to have enough military assets in the Middle East region and the speed of its response have been criticised, as the HMS Dragon warship being readied to help protect Cyprus is not expected to set sail until next week.
Sir Keir argued he had not been willing for the UK to enter the conflict against Iran because he was not satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan. Mr Trump said on Tuesday he was 'not happy with the UK' over the extent of its support and that 'this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with'. The details of the rescue operation for UK citizens in the Gulf remain unclear.