Filenews 20 February 2026
The United Kingdom has deployed six Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35 fighter jets to RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, as the United States increases its military presence in the region amid rising tensions with Iran.
According to Sky News, it is not considered that Britain is preparing to support any US military operation against Iran. However, the deployment of the RAF to Cyprus, along with the dispatch of four Typhoon fighters to Qatar, is aimed at strengthening British defenses in the event of possible Iranian retaliation following possible US strikes. In recent weeks, the U.S. has moved significant naval and air forces closer to Iran. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its battle group are already operating in the wider area and are set to join the USS Gerald R. Ford and its battle group. Sky News reported that the Ford is passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and, based on normal cruising speed, can be south of Cyprus within a few days.
The aircraft carrier groups are supported by destroyers equipped with air defense systems and Tomahawk missiles, as well as submarines and other support ships.
According to Sky News tracking data, more than 15 US refuelling aircraft have moved to Europe and the Middle East since mid-January. The aircraft have departed from RAF Mildenhall base in the UK and from US bases to Greece and Bulgaria. U.S. aircraft operate from multiple locations, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Aviano Base in Italy, bases in Spain and the Azores, as well as Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
Sky News reported that more than 100 US fighters are available for military planners in the eventual zone of operations. Despite the military buildup, the British government has not agreed to allow the US to launch strikes against Iran from Diego Garcia or RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, according to The Times, as quoted by Sky News. Under long-standing agreements, US forces require prior approval from London before any operation on British soil. Approval has not been given, amid concerns that such an action could violate international law.
US President Donald Trump said this week that the world would know "in the next, probably, 10 days" whether Washington will reach an agreement with Tehran on the nuclear program or take military action. In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that if Iran does not agree, "it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia and the airport in Fairford in order to eliminate a potential attack by a particularly unstable and dangerous regime." He added that such an attack could potentially target the UK and other allied countries.
RAF Akrotiri, one of the UK's two bases in Cyprus, has previously been used as a starting point for British and Allied operations in the Middle East. There is no official indication that the current deployment at the Cyprus base is linked to preparations for direct involvement in strikes against Iran.
