British warplanes have begun “defensive air sorties” in support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and taken out drones elsewhere in the Middle East amid the ongoing war, the UK defense ministry says.
The development comes as Britain’s response to the conflict is under criticism, including from the US president and the Cypriot government.
More US B-52 bombers landed at the UK air force base in Fairford, in southwestern England, today, AFP witnessed, after a first one landed on Friday.
Fairford is one of two bases, along with the Diego Garcia facility in the Indian Ocean, that the UK has given the US permission to use for “specific defensive operations into Iran” to destroy Iranian missiles at source, Defense Minister John Healey says.
“The UK is now conducting defensive air sorties in support of the UAE,” Healey tells MPs in a statement.
“Typhoons successfully took out two drones, one over Jordan, the second heading to Bahrain.”
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 9, 2026
