Four US B-1 Lancer bombers have arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to conduct “specific defensive operations” aimed at preventing Iran from firing missiles into the Middle East, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The aircraft, each capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles, landed on Friday evening and Saturday morning after Prime Minister Keir Starmer granted permission for the US to use British bases for defensive action against Iranian missile sites.
The deployment follows a warning from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that strikes on Iran would “surge dramatically”, with more fighter squadrons and bomber pulses expected. On Friday, US President Donald Trump demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender, as Israeli warplanes bombed Tehran and Beirut and Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries.
UK Armed Forces Chief Richard Knighton said he expected missions to be launched from Fairford “within the next few days”. The MoD also announced that a Merlin helicopter, described as a “submarine hunter”, was being sent to the Middle East for additional airborne surveillance. Starmer agreed on Sunday to allow the US to strike Iran defensively from Fairford and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Starmer defended his decision to block initial offensive strikes by the US and Israel, denying it had damaged the special relationship. However, Trump launched a personal attack, saying Starmer was “not Winston Churchill”. Reports emerged that Starmer faced opposition from cabinet ministers including Yvette Cooper, Shabana Mahmood, Ed Miliband and Rachel Reeves at a top-secret National Security Council meeting, though Starmer insisted all ministers supported the UK position.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan criticised the “war of choice” being waged without UN approval, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of being “too scared to make foreign interventions”. The Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is being prepared for deployment to the eastern Mediterranean, equipped for several months at sea if required.
