A US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber lands at RAF Fairford in southwest England on March 7, 2026. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has given approval for Washington to use the bases of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in southwest England to bomb Iranian missile sites, after several Gulf countries were targeted by Iranian retaliations. (Credit: Justin Tallis / AFP) A US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber lands at RAF Fairford in southwest England on March 7, 2026. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has given approval for Washington to use the bases of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in southwest England to bomb Iranian missile sites, after several Gulf countries were targeted by Iranian retaliations. (Credit: Justin Tallis / AFP)
A U.S. B-1 Lancer bomber capable of carrying up to 24 cruise missiles landed in the United Kingdom on Friday night, after Prime Minister Keir Starmer approved what London described as “defensive” U.S. operations against Iranian missile sites from British bases, the BBC reported.
The 44.5-meter-long aircraft touched down at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
The development comes after U.S. President Donald Trump and several British political figures, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, criticized Starmer for taking too long to authorize the use of British bases for the strikes.
Starmer defended the delay, saying the war could have been illegal and lacked a clear, well-considered plan.
In recent days, Trump has intensified his criticism of the British prime minister. “This is no Winston Churchill we’re dealing with,” Trump said Tuesday at the White House, adding he was “unhappy with London.”
At the center of the dispute is the joint U.S.-U.K. military base at Diego Garcia, located in the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, a highly strategic site for U.S. operations. London initially refused on Saturday to allow the United States to use the base for strikes on Iran.
“The United Kingdom has been very, very uncooperative,” Trump said, also telling British media he was “very disappointed” with Starmer.
Britain ultimately approved the use of its bases Sunday evening for U.S. strikes on Iranian missile sites, after several Gulf countries were targeted by Iranian retaliatory attacks.
Starmer reiterated Wednesday that Britain intended to act strictly in a defensive capacity.
In recent days, British bases in Cyprus have also been targeted by several suspected Hezbollah drone attacks.
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