Britain has been pulled deeper into the Middle East war by granting the US permission to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for a “specific and limited defensive purpose.”
The decision shifts the regional balance by making the UK a logistics and basing partner for potential strikes on Iran, while the United States gains closer launch points for heavy bombers.
The move follows weeks of British military positioning across the Gulf, including a joint UK-Qatari squadron relocated from Lincolnshire to Qatar in January, and reinforced air defences at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
RAF Typhoons in Qatar and F-35s and Typhoons at Akrotiri were deployed to protect the base and to defend allied targets against Iranian missiles and drones.
Keir Starmer reversed a refusal he issued last month to an earlier US request from Donald Trump. In a video address, Starmer authorised the limited basing access on the grounds the action could be lawful as participation in the self-defence of allied states, and described the permission as for a “specific and limited defensive purpose,” to strike Iranian missile storage or launch sites before missiles can be fired.
Trump told the Telegraph he was “very disappointed,” adding “it sounds like he was worried about the legality.”
Military analysts say the most immediate use would be to host US heavy bombers, B-2s or B-52s, to attack Iran’s so-called missile cities, deep mountain sites where high-speed ballistic missiles are stored.
Those aircraft prefer Fairford or Diego Garcia because they are closer than bases inside the continental United States, and bunker-buster munitions would likely be required.
That, however, may not be the limit of British involvement. Iran has retaliated against nine countries so far, including Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Cyprus.
Drones have struck at Akrotiri, and further Iranian attacks on UK assets or allies could draw Britain into direct retaliation. If air operations continue, Washington may request additional British support, and Starmer’s willingness to treat deeper action as defensive suggests London’s commitment could deepen if the conflict escalates.
