The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a chilling threat to the British Royal Family and targeted UK military bases following an attack by US bombers. It comes amid allegations that the mission was launched from RAF Fairford.
It remains unclear whether the long-range B1 bomber embarked on its mission against Iran directly from the Gloucestershire base, or if it made a stopover before launching from a US base in Europe or elsewhere, as has been the case previously.
While Fairford is technically an RAF base, it primarily serves as a European forward base for the US Air Force, which keeps its heavy bombers there on standby for missions in areas such as the Middle East.
Tehran regime expands target list
This distinction appears to have been overlooked by the Tehran regime, which alleges it has expanded its target list for attacks to include the UK, even threatening the Royal Family, in retaliation for the UK allowing US bombers to use British bases.
In March, then Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorised the use of the base for 'defensive' strikes against Iranian forces. Despite immense pressure, he firmly resisted US President Trump, refusing to overtly involve British forces in his war on Iran.
The UK government informed the Daily Mirror on Thursday: "For operational security reasons we do not comment on foreign nations military operations."
IRGC statement warns 'British regime'
Today, the IRGC issued a statement threatening the "British regime" with retaliatory strikes if it continues to back America's war efforts against Tehran. In a press release, the IRGC declared "any base used to invade Iranian territory is our legitimate target" before issuing a warning to the "British monarchy".
The statement accused the monarchy of being "the main cause of the misfortunes of the people of our region" and advised it not to "burden its case any further."
It stated: "We warn the British monarchy, which is the main cause of the misfortunes of the people of our region and has a dark record of dividing Islamic countries, widespread massacres in these countries, imposing authoritarian governments, and worst of all, organising and leading the occupation of Palestine and the creation of the Israeli Nakba, and has participated most in the recent aggressions of the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran, not to burden its case any further."
B1 launch marks first since hostilities reignited
Tuesday's launch marked the first time the US has executed a B1 mission since hostilities in Iran reignited nearly a fortnight ago. The reintroduction of heavy bombers to the US mission has coincided with a surge in US military presence in the Middle East. Additional US Special Forces are being deployed to the region, along with extra squadrons of fighter jets.
The specific target of the B1 in Iran remains unknown, but Axios suggests the long-range aircraft was used to strike IRGC assets. The Daily Mirror also understands that B-52 bombers have targeted IRGC bases in the most recent attacks.
In reference to the US utilisation of the base, the IRGC stated: "The aggressive US military, which had been using cruise missiles from its ships in the Indian Ocean in its aggressions after the official resumption of the war, turned to using B1 aircraft flying from Fairford Air Base in England yesterday, as the missile reserves of the aforementioned ships ran out."
The statement ominously continued: "As Foreign Ministry officials have also clarified, any base used to invade Iranian territory is our legitimate target."
Escalation in Middle East
The latest communique from the IRGC, titled "Warning to the British monarchy", emerged as violence has escalated in the Middle East following the breakdown of the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US. Following a 12th consecutive night of US strikes, the Iranian military group warned "this time we will not allow America to replace its oil and ammunition reserves with deceptive ceasefires and then resume attacks".
The Houthis, an armed Islamist faction aligned with Iran, targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea last night, following their declaration of a blockade on the Bab al Mandeb Strait on Tuesday. This latest assault has caused oil prices to skyrocket, with oil surpassing $100 a barrel for the first time since May.
