The use of Fairford air base in Gloucestershire by United States military forces to conduct strikes against targets in Iran has highlighted important issues surrounding the UK’s role in the current conflict in the Middle East.
Since 2024, Drone Wars UK has been investigating and challenging the use of Fairford – an ‘RAF’ base in name only – for USAF drone operations and has joined with CND and Oxfordshire Peace Campaign to oppose the use of the base for the illegal military action against Iran.
Today we are publishing a short briefing paper analysing the governments position in allowing the US to undertake ‘defensive strikes’ on Iran from UK-controlled bases.
It discusses command and control structures governing US strikes on Iran and the significant challenges the UK faces in ensuring that its involvement remains within the legal and policy boundaries of “defensive” operations. It concludes with a number of questions which policy makers and journalists should be asking the government about US bombing missions from UK bases.
If you are concerned about the US war on Iran and the UK’s role in supporting it, you may like to write to your local MP using some of the questions at the end of the briefing.
Naming the dead of Shajareh Tayyebeh School – Fairford 21 March 2026
On Saturday 21st March Fairford Action, supported by Drone Wars UK, CND and Oxfordshire Peace Campaign, held a short protest at the gates of Fairford to remember and name some of those killed in the US/Israeli war on Iran. By far the most shocking attack to date in this shocking war is the US cruise missile attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab on 28 February, which killed 175 children, the vast majority of whom were school children.
