British forces stand ready to safeguard the nation after IRGC issues alert over US aircraft at UK sites

On Thursday, the IRGC stated that the US had launched bombing operations against Iran from Fairford in southwest England, warning that any base involved in such strikes would count as a legitimate objective.

A 5th-generation F-35 lands at RAF Lakenheath, in Mildenhall, England, January 7, 2026

(photo credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

ByREUTERS

JULY 24, 2026 14:39

Updated: JULY 24, 2026 14:40

The United Kingdom stated that its military stands prepared to defend the country from potential strikes after Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) issued a caution against permitting US bombers to operate from British facilities.

In a statement on Thursday, the IRGC noted that the US had conducted bombing missions against Iran from Fairford in southwest England, adding that any base used to support such actions would represent a legitimate target.

The new British prime minister, Andy Burnham, received notification last week that London had renewed an existing pact permitting the United States to utilize British bases for what officials described as the collective self-defense of the region.

"Our armed forces stand ready to maintain the safety of the United Kingdom from any form of assault, whether directed at our territory or launched from overseas," a government spokesperson said.

"This encompasses a layered strategy for air and missile defense, supported by Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force units equipped with advanced systems, in close coordination with our NATO partners."

Britain commits to backing US defensive actions

The government indicated on Wednesday that the current arrangement includes US defensive operations aimed at reducing missile sites and capabilities used to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

In reply to Iran's alert, the spokesperson noted that Britain's stance had not shifted and that it remained dedicated to protecting its citizens, interests and allies under international law while steering clear of broader conflict.

The United States conducted a 13th straight night of strikes on Iran after the breakdown of an interim truce, with Tehran responding by firing at US bases in nearby Arab states.

In March, Iran reportedly launched two ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, though neither reached its mark.

An Iranian-type Shahed drone inflicted minor damage on March 2 after striking facilities at Britain's Akrotiri airbase in southern Cyprus. Britain later clarified that the location would remain outside the defensive pact with the US.

Could Iran target London?

Analysts indicate Iran may hold a missile capable of reaching London, yet accuracy would likely prove limited and the overall risk remains low.

Britain has long charged Iran with conducting cyberattacks and deploying criminal networks along with proxies to target opponents and dissidents within the UK. Security services reported 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots over the past year.

Britain this month prohibited support for the IRGC through fresh authorities introduced to counter what officials described as rising reliance on state-backed proxies.

The move followed a series of attacks on Jewish locations in London. The government stated the IRGC had "almost certainly" guided a group linked to several of these incidents.

Two Romanian nationals, whom prosecutors described as acting on behalf of Iran, received prison sentences this month for stabbing a journalist employed by a Farsi-language media outlet in London.

Tehran has consistently rejected involvement in such incidents, labeling the claims baseless and driven by political motives.