War in the Middle East: Britain’s involvement so far, from sea to sky

HMS Prince of Wales, one of the navy’s most powerful surface warships, has had its readiness to move shortened from 10 days to five. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

To Donald Trump, the UK’s involvement in the US assault on Iran – letting American bombers use RAF bases for “defensive operations” – amounts to joining the war after “we’ve already won”.

Even so, the first US B-1 Lancer planes began to land at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire at the weekend before joining the bombing campaign. Boeing C17 Globemaster transport planes have also landed at the base.