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| Volume 56 Number 2, January 31, 2026 | ARCHIVE | HOME | JBCENTRE | SUBSCRIBE |
The British government is refusing to disclose key information about US military activity on British soil at the very moment Washington appears to be preparing for a significant escalation in the Middle East. A Declassified UK investigation dated January 20 reveals a tightening veil of secrecy around American operations at RAF bases across England, raising questions about Britain's role in any future conflict involving Iran.
For the first time in years, ministers have declined to reveal how many US military personnel are stationed at each of the 13 American-operated or American-shared bases in Britain. While the government acknowledges that roughly 11,000 US personnel are present overall, it now refuses to break down the numbers by location, citing "personnel security" concerns. "In the interests of personnel security, I will not currently share specific numbers of US [visiting forces] personnel at each individual site," armed forces minister Al Carns said in response to a parliamentary question.
This marks a reversal from 2024, when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) did provide base-specific figures. The MoD also declined to clarify what authorisation the US would require to launch military operations from British territory. Successive governments have long insisted that Britain must approve any such action, but ministers now avoid confirming whether this principle still holds. Whether or not the government has ever refused is a moot point. For instance, RAF Lakenheath is notorious for having played a key role in US air operations against Libya for decades. Notable missions include the 1986 Operation El Dorado Canyon using F-111s, supporting the 2011 aggression against Gaddafi with F-15Es, and conducting strikes against ISIS in 2015.
Recent aircraft tracking data have indicated a surge of US military flights from RAF Lakenheath to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a key hub for operations in the Middle East. Recent movements reportedly include at least 12 F-15 fighter jets, 4 KC-135 refuelling aircraft, and multiple C-17 transport planes. RAF transport planes have made multiple trips in recent days to Tel Aviv, Beersheba, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. While the MoD has not explained the purpose of these flights, their timing raises questions about whether Britain is supporting or co-ordinating with US regional operations.
These deployments align with broader US preparations for potential action against Iran or even Greenland, following escalating rhetoric from the US President. The Declassified UK report paints a picture of a government increasingly reluctant to reveal the extent of US military activity on British soil, even as evidence mounts of a new US build-up in the Middle East and Trump's threats of military action against Iran. The report underscores how deeply embedded US military infrastructure is in Britain's military structure.
US forces must be removed from Britain and there must be no US military action launched from British soil. This is a crucial demand of the anti-war movement.
Sign the Stop the War Coalition Petition, Remove all US military from Britain!
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/remove-all-us-military-from-britain