The United States has begun using British military bases for certain operations against Iran as fighting continues in the ongoing Middle East conflict, the UK government said on Saturday, March 7.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the bases are being used for “specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region”. Keir Starmer initially declined to allow Britain to take part in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran when the conflict began on February 28.
However, the UK leader later approved a request from Washington allowing the use of two British military facilities for what officials described as a “specific and limited defensive purpose”. The bases involved are RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the joint UK-US base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
An B-1B Lancer bomber was seen landing at RAF Fairford on Saturday, March 7, according to an AFP photographer, while a C-5 Galaxy transport plane was also visible on the runway. Anti-war demonstrators gathered outside the base to protest against the military activity.
The decision came after tensions between Starmer and Donald Trump, who had earlier criticised Britain’s reluctance to support the campaign. Trump said he was “not happy with the UK” and mocked the British prime minister by saying “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with”.
Starmer defended his original stance, arguing that any military involvement by Britain must have a clear legal basis and a well-considered strategy. He later justified allowing the use of the bases by saying Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks following the US-Israeli strikes had begun to threaten British interests and allies in the region.
The issue has been sensitive for members of the ruling Labour Party, many of whom remain cautious about military interventions after the controversial decision by former prime minister Tony Blair to support the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
A recent poll by Survation of 1,045 British respondents found that 56 percent believed Starmer was right not to involve Britain in the initial strikes, while 27 percent said they thought the decision was wrong.