The UK's position shifted after an Iranian drone targeted a British airbase on Cyprus on March 1. According to multiple reports, a hanger at the RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, was damaged by an Iranian-made drone believed to be flown by Hezbollah, with no casualties reported and minimal damage. The prime minister's official spokesman stated that Iran striking British interests led to the change in decision. Keir Starmer allowed the US to use UK bases for 'specific defensive operations' after these retaliatory attacks on allies and the UK base in Cyprus. This decision makes the UK the first and only European country to openly allow the US to use its bases in the bombing campaign against Iran that the US and Israel began on February 28.
A military buildup is underway at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, where the US is using or is likely to use the base for strikes on Iranian missile sites. US B-1 Lancer bombers have arrived at or returned to RAF Fairford. Sir Richard Knighton, head of Britain's armed forces, said the first US bombers arrived at RAF Fairford and missions are expected within days. The UK approved the buildup of B-1 and B-52 bombers at RAF Fairford after the Cyprus attack. Two US C-17 Globemaster transport planes landed at RAF Fairford, with one carrying munitions and spare parts for bombers, according to multiple reports.
The Government will act in a 'calm, cool-headed' way.
The specific roles of the B-1 bombers overnight remain highly classified, with no comment from the MoD or Downing Street. The B-1 bombers touched down around 08:30am after a 15-hour mission and were loaded with missiles ahead of the raid, multiple reports indicate. British media, including the BBC, reported that the US was using RAF Fairford for strikes and had moved at least four B-1B Lancer bombers to the base. Reuters published a photo of a US Air Force B-1 bomber preparing to land at RAF Fairford on Friday evening.
Politically, Keir Starmer initially denied Donald Trump permission to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia over fears of illegal regime change intentions, according to multiple reports. It was reported last month that the British government had not given permission for the US to use UK military bases to support potential US strikes on Iran. Trump said it may be necessary for the US to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for operations if Iran decides not to make a deal. The UK's initial denial was followed by a shift after Iranian aggression, with the prime minister's official spokesman confirming Iran's actions prompted the reversal.
Britain is entering the Iran war after 'we've already won'.
The UK government has provided legal and strategic justifications for the base use, emphasizing defense and international law. The basis of the decision to accept the US request is collective self-defense of allies and protecting British lives, according to Sir Keir Starmer. The move is in accordance with international law, and the UK government published a summary of its legal advice. The defensive operations are aimed at preventing Iran from firing more missiles across the region, the U.K.’s Defense Ministry stated. The decision gives US forces a staging point in Europe for long-range bomber operations against Iranian missile sites.
Reactions from UK political leaders have been mixed. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated the Government would act in a 'calm, cool-headed' way in response to Donald Trump's criticism. Cooper highlighted intelligence and military cooperation between the US and UK, emphasizing practical decision-making, and rejected criticism from former Labour leader Tony Blair about UK support for the US from day one. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of being too scared to take a stronger stance against Iran due to Labour voters' concerns. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the UK must not be complicit in illegal military action and demanded MPs be given a say.
Keir Starmer is 'too scared to make foreign interventions' and Britain is 'in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not'.
International dynamics reveal tensions within the US-UK alliance. Donald Trump accused Britain of entering the Iran war after 'we've already won' in a Truth Social post. Trump suggested Sir Keir Starmer was worried about the legality of the decision and said the delay in accepting the US request probably never happened between the countries before. The prime minister's official spokesman emphasized that the UK and US are staunch allies. Meanwhile, Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal from Pakistan, dismissing a plan for an immediate ceasefire and permanent end to the war, according to multiple reports.
Broader military preparations by the UK are accelerating. Preparations for the UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales are being sped up for potential deployment to the Middle East, with readiness reduced to five days, multiple reports indicate. Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested RAF jets could legally strike Iranian missile sites used to attack British interests. Keir Starmer told Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman that the UK stands ready to help defend the country if needed. Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week, according to multiple reports.
The delay in accepting the US request probably never happened between the countries before.
Local impact near RAF Fairford includes noise complaints and planned protests. Hundreds of people gathered near RAF Fairford to watch American warplanes, with some complaints about noise and traffic. A woman living near RAF Fairford reported that the noise from B-1 bombers shakes her house and wakes her at night. B-1 bombers are particularly loud when using afterburners, and their noise can be felt in the ground. Protests are planned at RAF Fairford by groups including CND, Drone Wars UK, and Oxfordshire Peace Campaign, opposing the use of the base for US attacks on Iran, according to multiple reports.
Civilian evacuations and regional disruptions are ongoing. A second Government charter flight carrying UK citizens from Oman arrived in Britain overnight, landing at Gatwick Airport at 12:30am on Saturday. Around 6,500 Britons have returned from the United Arab Emirates since the conflict began. Emirates suspended and then resumed flights to and from Dubai after reported blasts, multiple reports indicate.
Sir Keir Starmer was worried about the legality of the decision.
US military actions and capabilities are central to the campaign. The United States has already been using its B-1 bombers based elsewhere to strike Iran. US Central Command said bombers struck deep inside Iran to degrade Iranian ballistic missile capabilities. The B-1B Lancer is a long-range US Air Force bomber introduced in the 1980s, capable of flying faster than sound and carrying up to about 75,000 pounds of ordnance. US President Donald Trump's emergency command aircraft, the Boeing E-4B 'Nightwatch', was spotted circling above Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, though multiple reports indicate this flight is likely a routine training exercise, not directly linked to Middle East tensions.
RAF Fairford has a historical and operational context as a key US strategic base. Both RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia have been used by the US in the past to conduct long-range heavy bombing missions. RAF Fairford hosts a small permanent US Air Force support presence led by the 420th Air Base Squadron, part of the 501st Combat Support Wing. RAF Fairford is frequently used to support US strategic bomber deployments.
The government is too scared to take a stronger stance against Iran due to Labour voters' concerns.
Unanswered questions remain regarding specific operations and legal terms. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions about the use of British bases when contacted on Saturday. The 501st Combat Support Wing said RAF Fairford is routinely used to host transient US military aircraft and personnel, but directed all questions to US Central Command. The exact legal justification published by the UK government for allowing US use of bases has not been detailed, and the specific terms and limitations of the UK's agreement with the US regarding base use are unclear.
Implications of the UK's involvement reveal contradictions. The UK has permitted the US to use its bases for offensive actions like destroying Iranian munitions sites, but British jets can only intercept munitions in the air, according to multiple reports. This contrasts with statements from Sir Keir Starmer and Luke Pollard that the UK is not involved in offensive action against Iran, only in defensive actions to protect British bases and allies. Sir Richard Knighton rejected criticism that the military was ill-prepared for conflict in Iran, stating the UK had built up its posture over weeks. The UK joined or is supporting US-led airstrikes on Iran, but the timing of the decision is disputed, with the UK Defense Ministry saying on Saturday that the US has begun using British bases to support airstrikes on Iran, while Starmer's announcement did not mention operations having begun.
It may be necessary for the US to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for operations if Iran decides not to make a deal.