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In a significant military development, American stealth bombers are anticipated to touch down shortly at military bases in the United Kingdom as part of a collaborative U.S.-Israel initiative targeting Iran. This information comes from reports citing unnamed senior Western officials.
According to a report from The Telegraph, preparations are underway at both RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia, a key military facility in the Indian Ocean, to accommodate the arrival of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. These aircraft, renowned as the world’s most expensive, come with a price tag of $2 billion each.
The imminent arrival of these bombers, expected within days, signifies an escalation in Washington’s military operations in the region. This follows the recent employment of B-2 bombers by the U.S. military in a tactical strike on Iranian ballistic missile sites on February 28, marking the commencement of Operation Epic Fury.
Diego Garcia serves as a strategic outpost in the Indian Ocean, where approximately 2,500 U.S. military personnel are stationed. This location plays a crucial role in the deployment and support of military operations in the region.
Diego Garcia is a strategic Indian Ocean base hosting 2,500 US military personnel. (Reuters)
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that B-2 stealth bombers, which were equipped with 2,000-pound bombs, struck Iranian “hardened” ballistic missile sites.
The U.S. was cleared to use British bases for limited strikes on Iran’s missile capabilities on Feb. 29 after Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed off on the plan, and while U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey stated Britain had “stepped up alongside the Americans.”
Starmer said the authorization was granted to protect U.K. and U.S. allies as the conflict escalated. He had previously said he would not allow American forces to use U.K. bases for offensive operations in the region.
Tensions have since been heightened in the U.K. by security incidents in Cyprus. RAF Akrotiri, a key British military base on the island, was struck by a suspected drone on March 2, causing minor damage.
Several B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers are seen on a runway at the Whiteman Air Force Base. (Whiteman Air Force Base)
The unmanned aircraft was reported to resemble an Iranian-made Shahed drone, similar to models used by Russia in Ukraine and by Tehran’s regional proxies.
The Ministry of Defense said force-protection measures were at the “highest level” and that the base had taken steps to defend personnel. About 4,000 service members and their families are based at RAF Akrotiri.
The U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Cyprus to Level 3, urging Americans to reconsider travel because of the threat of armed conflict and limited consular assistance in parts of the country.
Non-emergency embassy staff and family members were authorized to leave. Officials said the advisory change reflected adjustments in embassy operations rather than a direct change in underlying risk.
President Donald Trump blasted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer March 3, 2026, saying “this is not Winston Churchill we are dealing with,” amid a lack of support for the United States’ and Israel’s joint military operation against Iran. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images ; PA Images via Getty Images ; Jonathan Brady/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump had called Britain “uncooperative” and slammed Starmer as “not Winston Churchill” after Starmer initially rebuffed a U.S. request to use U.K. bases to attack Iran, according to The Associated Press.
Trump has also condemned Britain’s agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands, home to the Diego Garcia base, to Mauritius.
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