RAF
UK air force, drawn into the Iran conflict through base access and drone strikes.
Last refreshed: 30 March 2026
Can the UK credibly claim non-belligerence after Iranian drones hit RAF Akrotiri?
Latest on RAF
- What is the RAF?
- The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's aerial warfare service, founded in 1918 as the world's first independent air force. It operates Typhoon and F-35 jets, maintains UK air defence, and runs sovereign bases including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.Source: RAF
- Was RAF Akrotiri attacked by Iran?
- Yes. An Iranian drone struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in early 2026, the first hostile strike on a British military base in decades. A second drone targeted the base within 48 hours. The UK Government described the strikes as a direct consequence of authorising US use of UK bases.Source: John Healey, Parliament
- Did the UK join the Iran war?
- The UK Government maintained it was not a belligerent, but authorised US use of RAF bases for offensive operations and pre-positioned Typhoon and F-35 jets in the region. The Attorney General advised the war was unlawful, and 58 per cent of Britons opposed the base access decision.Source: UK Parliament
- What is RAF Fairford used for?
- RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is a US Air Force-used forward staging base for heavy bombers, including B-52s and B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. The US has used it for operations in the Middle East since the 1991 Gulf War, including during the 2026 Iran conflict.Source: RAF
- How does the RAF compare to the US Air Force in the Iran conflict?
- The US Air Force flew offensive strike missions using UK bases; the RAF's role was primarily to host and protect those operations. The RAF maintained Typhoon and F-35 capability in theatre but did not conduct independent strike operations. The asymmetry made UK non-belligerence claims legally contested.Source: UK Ministry of Defence
Background
The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's aerial warfare service, founded on 1 April 1918 as the world's first independent air force. It operates Typhoon and F-35 combat jets, maintains Quick Reaction Alert cover, and administers sovereign bases in Cyprus (RAF Akrotiri) and Gloucestershire (RAF Fairford), which the US Air Force has used for heavy bomber staging since the 1991 Gulf War.
In 2026 the RAF was drawn into the Iran conflict when Keir Starmer authorised US base access in March, and the UK Ministry of Defence disclosed that Typhoons and F-35s had been pre-positioned in theatre before hostilities began . RAF Akrotiri was struck by an Iranian drone within days, then targeted again within 48 hours: the first hostile strikes on British soil in decades .
The RAF's position exposes the central contradiction of UK policy. John Healey confirmed British troops had been within yards of Iranian strikes , yet London insisted it was not a belligerent. The Attorney General ruled the war unlawful, and 58 per cent of Britons opposed the base access decision .
