US bombers land in UK as Trump warns Iran will be ‘hit very hard’

More American bombers have landed in Britain as Donald Trump warned Iran would be “hit very hard”.

A first 146ft B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening and three more followed on Saturday morning.

Sir Keir Starmer has granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases.

Armed forces chief Sir Richard Knighton said he would expect the US to launch missions from the Gloucestershire base “within the next few days”.

A second Government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick Airport in the early hours of Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue.

A third will be leaving Muscat, Oman, on Sunday, and the Foreign Office is also exploring options to charter a flight from Dubai to bring people back from the Middle East, the Press Association understands.

The latest arrivals join more than 9,000 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began in the region.

On Saturday morning, Emirates announced it was suspending all flights to and from Dubai after blasts were reportedly heard in the city but said flights would resume about 30 minutes later.

Donald Trump appeared to warn in a post on Truth Social that more Iranian officials would become targets in the war, adding: “Today Iran will be hit very hard!”

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian spoke on state TV to apologise to neighbouring nations over Tehran’s attacks and reject US demands for an unconditional surrender.

Questions linger over the UK’s future role in the conflict, with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy suggesting RAF jets could legally strike Iranian missile sites being used to attack British interests in the Middle East.

Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, signalled that the UK could join more proactive strikes in future, saying “campaigns and conflicts evolve over time”.

In a call with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman on Friday, the Prime Minister said the UK stands ready to help defend the country should it be needed.

It comes after Britain was criticised by allies over its response to the crisis, particularly over the defence of Cyprus, where a UK base was struck by a drone earlier this week.

Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week while France and Greece have already deployed military assets to defend the island.

One reason it is taking some time to prepare the Type 45 destroyer is because it is being equipped to remain at sea for several months if required, rather than rushed into the eastern Mediterranean for a short period.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch renewed her attack on the UK’s response to the war in a speech on Saturday, saying the Prime Minister is “too scared to make foreign interventions” and that the UK is “in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not”.

Sir Keir has defended his decision not to permit America to use British bases in the opening assault against the Tehran regime, suggesting it could have been unlawful and arguing the Government must keep a “cool head”.

The Prime Minister agreed on Sunday to allow the US to strike Iran defensively from Fairford and Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that strikes were “about to surge dramatically”, referring to “more fighter squadrons, more defensive capabilities and more bomber pulses more frequently”.