US Is Using British Bases of Fairford and Diego Garcia for ‘Defensive Strikes’ on Iran, in Surprising Policy Decision by New PM Burnham

Diego Garcia airbase

A vital stepping stone for the strikes.

As the US attacks on Iran continue for the 12th day, a surprising continuation in policy has taken place, with the new British Prime Minister, Andy Burham, allowing the use of UK bases by American military airplanes involved in the operations.

Today (23), it arises that the US deployed a B1 bomber from a British base, in the first such mission in Burnham’s premiership.

The Telegraph reported:

“The long-range plane was used to hit Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets, sources told Axios. The B1, which can carry two dozen 2,000lb bombs, took off from RAF Fairford on Tuesday, and was seen on plane-tracking websites.

Mr. Burnham had agreed to continue Sir Keir Starmer’s policy of allowing the US to use the air base in Gloucestershire, as well as Diego Garcia airfield in the Chagos Islands for ‘defensive strikes’, Bloomberg reported.”

“Ed Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, has long been opposed to this position, prompting concern from the White House over his appointment. In February, he led opposition on the National Security Council to the use of UK bases for US bombers, causing tension between Sir Keir and Mr. Trump.

The US president warned on Wednesday he would hit a bridge or power plant for every ship Iran attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Anadolu Agency reported:

“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned Thursday that any British military base used by the US to launch attacks against Tehran will become a “legitimate target,” while accusing London of playing a major role in recent US and Israeli military operations.

In a statement, the IRGC said the US had recently resorted to using B-1 bombers flying from RAF Fairford in England after warships operating in the Indian Ocean exhausted their stock of cruise missiles.

‘Any base used for aggression against Iranian territory is a legitimate target for us’, the IRGC said.

It warned Britain ‘not to further worsen its record’, accusing London of being ‘a principal architect of instability’ in the Middle East, saying it had played one of the largest roles in the recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/07/us-is-using-british-bases-fairford-diego-garcia/