Why are UK military bases being used in Iran conflict?

Dozens of US bombers have taken off from RAF Fairford in the several weeks since the United States was authorised to use the base for defensive strikes on Iran.

Sir Keir Starmer announced on 1 March that the UK had agreed to the request from the US. The base, located on the border of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, has been used by the US in the past to conduct long-range heavy bombing missions.

The move comes after the US and Israel began attacking Iran on Saturday 28 February and President Donald Trump encouraged Iranians to remove their government. The UK has "played no role" in strikes in the Middle East, Sir Keir said.

"You can't avoid being drawn in if you're a country like the UK," said Robert Macaire, who was British ambassador to Iran from 2018 to 2021.

The Royal Air Force station is located in the Cotswolds about four miles (6.4km) south of the town of Fairford, which sits along the River Coln.

The countryside area is typically quiet, but about 170,000 people descend on the RAF site every July for the Royal International Air Tattoo, which is the largest military air show in the world.

Since it opened in January 1944, RAF Fairford has been used for various reasons.

The United States Air Force (USAF) 501st Combat Support Wing manages and supports operations and the site is predominantly used by USAF heavy bombers like the B-1B Lancer, the B-2A Spirit and the B-52H Stratofortress.

It also routinely supports Bomber Task Force operations.

Due to its long runway, Fairford was used as the test centre for Concorde aircraft until 1977.

During World War Two, the RAF's No.620 Squadron's fleet used the base for airborne forces operations which included parachute drops of troops and supplies and towing Airspeed Horsa assault gliders.

Troop carriers and gliders from Fairford were used for the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944.

The site was also used to lift British troops for Operation Market Garden in the German-occupied Netherlands in September 1944.

In the Cold War, USAF Strategic Air Command units occupied Fairford and other RAF bases to build up a deterrent in Europe against the Soviets.

Bombers and tankers from Eaker Air Force Base in Arkansas were deployed from Fairford in the first Gulf War in 1991.

The station was used also during the Iraq War of 2003.

Since 1 March, US heavy bombers have been taking off from RAF Fairford "for defensive missions to destroy Iran's missile capabilities," according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

"The United States has started using British bases for specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region, which is putting British lives at risk," an MoD spokesperson said.

"This is alongside the defensive action the UK is taking to protect British people across the region."

Nearby residents and plane spotters have reported aircraft including B-1 and B-52 bombers taking off in the early hours of the morning, with the noise so loud it causes houses to shake.

Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean is also being used by the US for strikes on Iranian missile sites.

In civil aviation, night flights are heavily restricted to minimise disruption to residents. For example at London Heathrow only 5,800 flights a year are allowed to take off or land between 23:30 and 06:00.

However, in both civil and military aviation there is no formal ban on night flying and military aircraft are often on standby 24 hours a day.

Therefore, during operational periods such as this, activity at RAF Fairford should be expected throughout the day and night.

William Eliason, 39, a former member of the USAF now living in Oxfordshire said: "I've heard folks posting on Facebook and other social media that they're not happy with the engine tests that the maintainers are doing at 01:00.

"Unfortunately...they kind of have to do their work, and if there's no rejection from command, they're going to do it."

After the US and Israel attacked Iran, the Iranian regime retaliated with attacks on US assets and countries in the region with a US military presence, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq.

A British RAF base in Cyprus was hit by a drone strike on 1 March, while Iran's foreign minister has warned the UK it sees its choice to let the US use British bases as "participation in aggression" in a phone call with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Rob Macaire, who lives in Marlborough, Wiltshire, served as the UK ambassador to Iran from 2018 until 2021.

He said it was "looking increasingly likely" the tension would reach the scale it has given the "huge" build up and coordination between the US and Israel.

"I think when you get a military clash as serious and as large-scale as this you get into territories where it's completely unpredictable and no one can see where it's going to go," said Macaire.

"I think the government has done what you'd expect it to do which was to stay out of these initial attacks on Iran… but you can't avoid being drawn in if you're a country like the UK," he said.

"We have a lot of people in the Gulf, we have a lot of interest in the Gulf, we have military assets in the Gulf," said Macaire.

"When they come under attack, obviously there's a question of self defence, so I think the government has taken the steps you'd expect it to take at this stage."

Will Stone, MP for North Swindon, it was important to be "very clear" that the use of RAF Fairford in the US-Israel war with Iran would be for "a defensive purpose and not any offensive action".

"It's the difference between stopping [Iran] striking other places and striking at them," he said.

Stone added that the UK had to defend its troops and families in the Middle East and Cyprus and support its allied countries.

He said he hoped the conflict could come to "a swift resolution".

"That would be the ideal situation for everybody to have a diplomatic solution which brings Iran around the table, ceasing their nuclear weapon programme," he added.

Many residents living near the air force base told the BBC they had no concerns over the government's decision.

Glyn Williams, who has lived in Fairford for 15 years, said the "wonderful" town would probably be "a little more noisy than usual".

Jennifer Cox said she was not worried about the site's role in the conflict, but also acknowledged the noise from the military aircraft.

"We chose to live here... why make a fuss about it?" she said.

Janet Kirk, who has lived in Fairford her whole life, said she does not take a lot of notice of the station.

"It's always been used... it's something you get used to if you live near it," she said.

Jim Downs, an RAF veteran who lives in Swindon, told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that he agreed with the government's decision to let American troops use the base.

"They're protecting us and they're doing a good job," he said.

"It's nice to see that the USA is backing us as well because they've got an amazing amount of power and military power."

"It gives you a little bit of comfort to know that they're there," he added.

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