# Introduction

The UK has a history of leasing military bases to the US Air Force. Although the US needs to ask the UK Government permission to use the bases for combat operations, the legislative framework appears to reserve a primary [“jurisdiction of US personnel to the US.”](https://cnduk.org/resources/military-bases-us-bases-in-the-uk-and-uk-bases-overseas-what-they-are-and-what-they-do/#:~:text=Whilst%20most%20of%20these%20bases,activities%20which%20employ%20these%20technologies.)  Whilst the UK retains formal sovereignty over its military bases and must grant permission for their use in combat operations, in practice long-standing basing arrangements and Status of Forces Agreements mean that day-to-day operational control rests largely with US forces. This creates a distinction between legal authority and practical oversight: while the UK can authorise or withhold use at a formal level, its ability to monitor, shape, or constrain specific missions launched from these bases is limited.

In the current war against Iran, the British military bases in Fairford, Akrotiri, Diego Garcia and Flyingdales are known to be actively used. [On 1 March](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/01/uk-to-allow-us-to-use-british-bases-for-defensive-strikes-against-iran), Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed the US to use RAF bases. Initially the UK [withheld permission](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj98egkl7l1o) – which was critically received by Trump – but after Iran struck British allies in the Gulf region, Starmer allowed the use of UK bases [for “defensive operations”](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/middle-east-war-starmer-britain-us). 

Up until 7 April, Starmer has maintained this position, saying that the [UK will not directly support the US in the war](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/02/thursday-briefing-why-does-donald-trump-have-it-in-for-the-uk). Defence Secretary John Healey states that the UK is only involved in [defensive operations in response to Iranian threats](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/31/uk-troops-gulf-donald-trump-jibes-british-military-involvement), and that these operations are necessary to defend the British citizens and allies in the region.

At the same time, the UK military does not provide the media or parliament with information[ concerning foreign nations’ military operations](https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-03-05/118233). Additionally, the Ministry of Defence [refuses to comment](https://www.declassifieduk.org/uk-military-refuses-to-give-running-commentary-on-iran-civilian-deaths/) on whether the UK approves the target lists of US strikes departing from the British bases, and on the number of killed civilians by US bombing missions from British bases. 

This silence leads to questioning whether the UK can clearly determine the line between operations with merely defensive purposes, and operations that (simultaneously) assist the US in their war against Iran.  

# RAF bases: what do we know?

Since the start of the war on Iran on 28 February, the UK has been involved by permitting the US to use their RAF bases. The following part shows an overview of the bases and their reported activity since the start of the war until 7 April. 

**RAF Akrotiri**  
RAF Akrotiri is based in Cyprus, owned by the UK Ministry of Defence, but permanently and[jointly operated by the US and the UK military](https://www.declassifieduk.org/revealed-americas-secret-military-deployment-on-british-cyprus/#:~:text=Secrecy,across%2011%20sites%20in%20England.). It is hosting intelligence facilities, and is known to be [“extremely busy”](https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-akrotiri/). We know that

* This base was attacked on 1 March by an Iranian-made drone;
* 2 [Wildcat](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/middle-east-war-starmer-britain-us) helicopters arrived on 6 March. These are [multi-role aircrafts, among other things used for aerial reconnaissance and firepower](https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/equipment/aircraft/wildcat);
* A Merlin helicopter was deployed to Akrotir in the first week of March “[to take part in surveillance work](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/middle-east-war-starmer-britain-us)”;
* U-2 spy planes are [routinely departing](https://www.declassifieduk.org/u-s-flies-routine-spy-flights-from-uks-cyprus-base-near-gaza-for-third-party-governments/) from Akrotiri to gather intelligence in different Middle-Eastern countries;
* An HMS Dragon: Type 45 destroyer [arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/23/british-destroyer-hms-dragon-arrives-in-eastern-mediterranean) in the last week of March, and [“will begin operational integration into Cyprus’ defence.”](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/23/british-destroyer-hms-dragon-arrives-in-eastern-mediterranean) This ship is equipped to defend against medium-range ballistic missiles and drone attacks. HMS Dragon has a Sea Viper missile system, which intercepts drones and
* The UK Government has [sent more defence personnel](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/middle-east-war-starmer-britain-us) to this base since the start of the war.

**RAF Fairford**  
RAF Fairford is based in England, owned by the UK Ministry of Defence and has been serving as [“key European forward operating location for U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command.”](https://rafcroughtonfss.com/raf-fairford/) We know that 

* Fairford currently has a total of 15 bombers;
* 12 of these are US B-1 Lancer planes, [which are strike aircrafts](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/weapons/b-1/). [The first one arrived on 6 March](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/middle-east-war-starmer-britain-us),[ the rest in the following days](https://x.com/ArmchairAdml/status/2031688631807512930/photo/3). [These bombers are heavily deployed](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-1-bombers-iran-british-base/) in the war against Iran;
* 3 of these are US B-52 Stratofortress jets. These [arrived on 9 March](https://x.com/ArmchairAdml/status/2031688631807512930/photo/3).[ Recent observations show they have been used in direct strikes deploying gravity bombs on Iranian targets, when initially they were used only for stand-off munitions](https://defence-industry.eu/u-s-air-force-b-52-bombers-deploy-jdam-bombs-over-iran/);
* The bombers are delivered with transport planes Boeing C-17 Globemasters, and a C-5 Galaxy;
* Commander of US Central Command Admiral Cooper stated that the bombers are taking Iranian ships “[out of the fight](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260311-us-says-5500-targets-hit-in-iran-as-operation-continues/)” and “[our bomber hit a large ballistic missile factory](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-1-bombers-iran-british-base/)”;
* [A social media post on 11 March](https://x.com/richardgaisford/status/2031773938108264874) shows a video of B-1 cruise missiles being offloaded and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) being onloaded. [JDAMs convert unguided (dumb) bombs into precision-guided (smart) munitions](https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2166820/joint-direct-attack-munition-jdam/) and 
* [This base has been used to strike Iranian sites that target the Strait of Hormuz](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c36rny6xgppo).

**RAF Flyingdales**  
RAF Flyingdales is based in England, owned by the UK Ministry of Defence and provides the US and UK government with a [“continuous ballistic missile early warning service”](https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-fylingdales/) to prevent surprise attacks. We know that

* The base houses powerful radar [“capable of tracking objects 3,000 miles into space”](https://www.forcesnews.com/epic-fury/uncovering-secrets-raf-base-protecting-lives-middle-east) and
* It is “[playing a vital role](https://www.forcesnews.com/epic-fury/uncovering-secrets-raf-base-protecting-lives-middle-east)” in protecting British troops and allies from attacks coming from Iran.

**Diego Garcia**  
Diego Garcia is based in the Indian Ocean on one of the Chagos Islands. It is a US-UK jointly owned military base, and is reported to be [critical for the countries’ national security.](https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-02-25/debates/6975CC8C-AB6A-4305-912F-E1EDB65AE873/DiegoGarciaAndBritishIndianOceanTerritory)[The base is subject to a contested deal of giving Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dqg3nqynlo) We know that

* The base hosts[ advanced military and logistical equipment, “including B-52 bomber aircraft, radar installations, and fuel storage facilities”](https://www.cfr.org/articles/trump-iran-and-diego-garcia-inside-the-fight-over-a-remote-military-base) and 
* On 20 March, Iran tried to strike this base, [but the attack did not succeed](https://www.cfr.org/articles/trump-iran-and-diego-garcia-inside-the-fight-over-a-remote-military-base).

  
**Other UK involvement**  
The UK involvement reaches further than just the use of their military bases. UK owned weapons and aircrafts were used, since the start of the war. We know that

* [The UK companies BAE System and Raytheon UK provided components](https://aoav.org.uk/2026/uk-linked-components-identified-in-us-tomahawk-missile-used-in-iranian-school-strike-that-killed-multiple-children/#:~:text=Summary,to%20UK%20defence%20industry%20participation) for the Tomahawk missile that struck the school in Iran on 28 February;
* The RAF Regiment is deploying many weapons and systems to defend against Iranian attacks, by shooting down drones. [“British air defence specialists have shot down 14 Iranian kamikaze drones in just one night”](https://www.forcesnews.com/epic-fury/raf-regiment-shoot-down-14-kamikaze-drones-single-night-over-middle-eastern-air-base);
* The [UK Government confirmed](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/middle-east-war-starmer-britain-us) that an RAF Eurofighter Typhoon was used to shoot down Iranian drones, protecting British allies in the Gulf. It shot down an Iranian attack aimed at Qatar; 
* An [RAF F-35 pilot](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/middle-east-war-starmer-britain-us) shot down two drones aimed at Qatar in the first week of March;
* [UK owned weapons are sent to Gulf allies](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/08/middle-east-war-starmer-britain-us), namely
* Typhoon Squadron jets, jointly owned by UK and Qatar, were sent to Qatar;
* Sky-Sabre, a UK owned ground-based air defence system, were sent to Saudi-Arabia, Bahrein and Kuwait; 
* [Lightweight Multirole Launcher](https://www.forcesnews.com/epic-fury/healey-visits-middle-east-raf-regiment-gunners-down-more-drones), a UK-owned versatile precision missile, arrived in Bahrein, together with UK experts to integrate it into Bahraini defence and
* [Rapid Sentry](https://www.forcesnews.com/epic-fury/healey-visits-middle-east-raf-regiment-gunners-down-more-drones), a UK owned ground-based air defence system, is operating in Kuwait combined with the RAF’s ORCUS system, a drone-detecting system. 
* [Defence Secretary John Healey announced](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vq76g45rvo) in the last week of March that more UK troops and defence systems will be deployed in the Gulf region. 

# Questionable involvement

The government’s position hinges on a carefully drawn distinction between defence and participation that is becoming harder to sustain under scrutiny. The UK Government officials state that they are not and will not be involved in offensive operations against Iran. Keir Starmer [is refusing Trump to use RAF bases](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/uk-refuse-trump-british-bases-iranian-bridge-strikes-4338961?srsltid=AfmBOoo6sEJcS6NRAPyoBPFfLPCzimZ04Ex6ZNEjsyEiKbvQmNx_zjTx) to strike Iranian civilian bridges and power plants, and repeats that the UK involvement only concerns protection of their own civilians, troops and allies. 

But, while the UK may not be directly selecting targets or conducting strikes, it is facilitating operations that are integral to the US campaign.

In effect, the line between defensive support and operational involvement appears less a fixed legal boundary than a matter of interpretation.

This ambiguity is compounded by a lack of transparency. The UK retains formal sovereignty over its bases, yet provides little clarity on how it exercises oversight in practice. Ministers insist that involvement is limited and defensive, but decline to disclose whether they review US targeting decisions or assess civilian harm arising from missions launched from British territory. That leaves a gap between stated policy and verifiable reality.

For investors, allies and policymakers alike, such opacity carries risks. The UK’s credibility rests not only on its legal position but on the consistency between its rhetoric and its actions. Without clearer disclosure on the scope and limits of its involvement, the government’s claim to remain outside offensive operations risks appearing increasingly tenuous.

A briefing note for journalists on the ways in which the UK is involved in the US war on Iran