Trump bombs Iran from UK airbase for first time after Burnham allows ‘defensive strikes’ in reversal of Starmer decision

DONALD Trump has used a UK airbase to launch strikes on Iran for the first time under Andy Burnham’s new leadership. The US deployed a B1 bomber from RAF Fairford after the new Prime Minister allowed for “defensive strikes” on Tehran. The US deployed a B1 bomber from a British base, likely RAF Fairford, after the new Prime Minister allowed for ‘defensive strikes’ on Tehran Credit: Reuters The strikes are the first time a UK airbase has been involved in the Iran war under Andy Burnham’s new leadership Credit: Shutterstock Editorial The long-range plane, which can carry two dozen 2,000lb bombs, was used to hit Iranian military targets, sources told Axios. Burnham agreed to continue the UK’s policy of allowing the US to use the air base in Gloucestershire for purely “defensive strikes”, according to Bloomberg. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! It comes as the war in the Middle East continues to ramp up with the US on their 12th consecutive night of strikes on Tehran. Trump has vowed to obliterate Iranian bridges and power plants for every ship Tehran shoots at in the Strait of Hormuz. Burnham’s newly appointed Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, has today told foreign ministers that the UK would “work intensively with others to seek to de-escalate” the Iran conflict. Miliband also said he welcomed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in June between the US and Iran. This is despite the very first point of the MoU being an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts”. Relentless attacks from both Iran and the US have rained down across the Middle East for almost two weeks now – breaching the MoU entirely. Most read in The Sun An aerial view of one of Trump’s strikes on Iranian military targets Credit: Reuters Trump has been firing on Iran for 12 consecutive days now Credit: Reuters He wrote on Truth Social: “Any time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT.” Shortly after, Iran targeted US assets in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) also said the Strait of Hormuz was “completely closed” as they continue to wage war in the waterway. The IRGC said it stopped three oil tankers from passing through the strait. One tanker was set ablaze and two others turned back after trying to pass through a mined section of the strait, according to Iranian state media. About 15 per cent of global maritime trade passes through the Red Sea – a passage enclosed by two narrow waterways – Bab al-Mandab and the Suez Canal. Iranian proxy terror group the Houthis have also now re-entered the conflict after claiming to have attacked two oil tankers in the Red Sea. They said the Encelia and Layla vessels had been blitzed with both vessels belonging to Saudi Arabia. The Houthi rebels claim they struck two vessels in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait Credit: Sabreen News/X The Houthis said they targeted the ships with drones and cruise missiles for allegedly violating this blockade. 3 comments3