UK government confirms American forces are operating from two British facilities for missile defense activities amid escalating Middle East tensions.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The United States has begun using military bases in the United Kingdom for operations connected to the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Iran, according to an announcement from the British government.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence said the United States had started conducting “specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region,” using British-controlled facilities as part of the effort.
The development comes as the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran entered its second week following the start of hostilities on Feb. 28.
British officials said the operations were approved after a request from Washington to use two military sites for what the government described as a “specific and limited defensive purpose.”
The bases identified for the operations include RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, located in western England, and the joint UK-U.S. military installation at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.
Aircraft activity at RAF Fairford increased on Saturday when a U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber arrived at the base. An American C-5 Galaxy military transport aircraft was also seen on the runway.
Anti-war demonstrators gathered outside the base as the aircraft arrived, protesting Britain’s involvement in the conflict.
The decision to allow the United States to use British facilities followed an earlier disagreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over Britain’s role in the conflict.
Starmer initially declined to support U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran, drawing criticism from Trump.
Trump publicly expressed frustration with Britain’s stance and said he was “not happy with the UK,” also mocking the British leader by saying, “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”
Starmer later approved the limited use of the British bases after Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. and Israeli operations raised concerns about the broader regional threat.
The British prime minister defended his earlier hesitation, saying any British involvement in military action must meet legal and strategic standards.
He said the United Kingdom must ensure that any participation “must always have a lawful basis and a viable thought-through plan.”
Starmer also said the escalation of Iranian retaliation had increased risks to British allies and interests in the region, prompting the decision to allow defensive use of the bases.
Political caution remains strong within Starmer’s Labour Party due to historical concerns over British participation in overseas military campaigns.
Lawmakers continue to reference the political fallout from former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Public opinion in Britain appears divided but generally supportive of the government’s earlier reluctance to participate in the initial strikes.
A Survation poll of 1,045 respondents published Friday found that 56 percent of those surveyed believed Starmer was correct not to involve the United Kingdom in the initial attacks on Iran. Twenty-seven percent said the decision was wrong.
British officials said the current arrangement with the United States is limited to defensive measures and does not represent direct British participation in combat operations.
The situation remains fluid as the conflict continues and governments across Europe and the Middle East monitor developments and assess the risk of wider regional escalation.
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