US bomber lands at UK air base for 'defensive' operations against Iran

B-1 bomber deployed to UK Base as US-Iran War intensifies. (Image: Reuters)

A US bomber capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles landed in the UK after Prime Minister Keir Starmer approved "defensive" US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases.

Britain's defence ministry said the US had begun using the military sites for "specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region", AFP reported.

The development came as the US-Israel war against Iran entered its ninth day. The US B-1B Lancer bomber was seen landing at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on March 6.

The bomber, with the callsign PILE72, landed in UK after flying from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. More B-1 bombers are expected to arrive for what has been described as “surge" strikes on Iranian sites, according to a report by News18.

Starmer had initially refused to grant permission for the US to use UK bases in its joint offensive with Israel against Iran, which caused a disagreement with President Donald Trump.

Trump told journalists in the Oval Office earlier this week he was "not happy with the UK" over the decision, which led to US planes "flying many extra hours" to carry out strikes last weekend.

After granting the US permission to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the prime minister told MPs the government "does not believe in regime change from the skies", BBC reported.

RAF Fairford, 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 B-1 bomber weighs 86 tonnes and is the fastest bomber in the US Air Force, according to Boeing, hitting speeds of more than 900mph (1,448.4km/h).

Nicknamed "the Bone", the US bomber has advanced radar and GPS systems to help hit targets, and electronic jammers, radar warnings and a decoy system to protect it from enemies.