The United Kingdom government announced on Saturday that the United States has begun using British bases for 'defensive operations' in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to a statement from the UK Ministry of Defense posted on the X platform, 'The United States has started using UK bases for specific defensive operations aimed at preventing Iran from launching missiles at the region, which endangers the lives of Britons.' UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously angered US President Donald Trump by refusing to get involved in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, which began on February 28. However, Starmer later agreed to a US request to use two military bases 'for specific defensive purposes.' The bases are Fairford in Gloucestershire, southwest England, and Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. A photographer for Agence France-Presse reported on Saturday that a US B-1 bomber had landed at Fairford base. A US C-5 Galaxy aircraft was also visible on the base's runway. An anti-war protest was organized in the vicinity of the base.
