US Aircraft Arrive at RAF Fairford
Two additional US Air Force planes have landed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire following the UK’s agreement to allow the US to use British bases for defensive operations related to Iran.
On Sunday, footage showed two Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft touching down at the Gloucestershire airbase, arriving shortly after B-1 Lancer bombers had been stationed there.
One of the C-17s came from Glasgow Prestwick airport after being redirected due to poor weather and visibility conditions at Fairford. The BBC reported that this aircraft was carrying munitions and spare parts intended for the bombers.
The other C-17 arrived from McGuire Airbase near Wrightstown, New Jersey, according to flight tracking data.
It remains unclear whether these aircraft will depart from Fairford to proceed to the Middle East.
The Ministry of Defence declined to provide any comments on the matter.
Context of Increased Military Activity
The rise in military traffic at RAF Fairford follows statements by former US President Donald Trump, who noted that the UK was considering increased involvement after the US and Israel conducted a week-long bombing campaign on Iran.
Sir Keir Starmer has authorized the US to use UK bases for "specific defensive operations." This shift in policy came after British allies and the RAF base at Akrotiri in Cyprus experienced retaliatory attacks in the past week.
A hangar at the Cypriot airbase was damaged by an Iranian-made drone, believed to have been operated by the Tehran-backed militia group Hezbollah based in Lebanon.
Starmer is also deploying a destroyer equipped with air defence capabilities to the region.
Meanwhile, the Royal Navy has reduced the readiness level of its flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, to five days ahead of any potential deployment. The vessel is currently docked in Portsmouth.
Donald Trump's Comments
On Saturday night, Trump posted on Truth Social:
“The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East.”
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer – But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
