U.S. electronic warfare aircraft arrived at RAF Fairford on Thursday, after Iran warned that the base could be targeted following reports that B‑1 Lancer bombers operating from the base had struck Iran on Tuesday.

RAF Fairford serves as a hub for U.S. strategic aircraft and has been used for forward‑deployed bomber missions. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps‑affiliated news outlet claimed that the United States switched from cruise missiles launched from vessels in the Indian Ocean to B‑1 bombers flying from Fairford, and warned that any base used to attack Iranian territory is a legitimate target, a statement also echoed by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

British officials said the United Kingdom is prepared to defend itself, noting a layered air and missile defense capability provided by Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force assets and a £790 million investment in domestic air and missile defense, as well as more than £2 billion for additional air defense and counter‑drone systems and Typhoon fleet upgrades. The United States has not confirmed the reported B‑1 strikes, and CENTCOM declined to comment. Open‑source trackers indicated that two B‑1 bombers launched from Fairford on Tuesday, though details of the mission remain unconfirmed.

The deployment follows other recent movements, including the relocation of F‑16 Fighting Falcons to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, the arrival of more than 150 medics at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and statements by President Trump that he is considering a “massive” attack on Iran. Additional aircraft such as KC‑135 tankers and special‑operations forces have also been positioned in the region.

Iranian officials did not specify how they would attack Fairford, and the feasibility of a successful strike using long‑range missiles is uncertain given previous failures to hit distant targets. The threat represents a new element in the ongoing tension between Iran and the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom says it remains ready to respond to any attack on its soil or abroad, while the situation remains unresolved as no concrete plan for an assault on Fairford has been disclosed.