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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Harry Davies and Rob Evans with graphics by Ana Lucía González Paz and Andrew Witherspoon

Bunker busters and a Burger King: a visual guide to US military bases on British soil

Composite showing munitions near B-1B Lancer aircraft at RAF Fairford during US–Israeli conflict with Iran in b/w with US flag overlaid in colour with satellite image above
The American bases in the UK play a critical role in US military and intelligence operations. Composite: Guardian Design/Reuters

They are dotted across the UK countryside, often obscured from public view behind highly secured perimeter fences. Technically, they are on British soil, and misleadingly most have “Royal Air Force” in their name.

But in many respects, these military outposts are under the control of the US president and commander-in-chief.

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