During Operation Epic Fury, various bases in Europe served as major strategic bases to support the United States’ operations in the Middle East. While some countries (like Spain) closed their airbases and airspace to US forces once hostilities kicked off, they were important in the initial buildup. The US and European relationship is often poorly understood and poorly portrayed in the media as little more than Europe depending on the United States.

But the transatlantic relationship is a two-way street. Without the airbases and other facilities (e.g., naval) in Europe, the United States would be dramatically restricted in its ability to project power in the Middle East. Here are some bases in Europe whose US airbases have played important roles.

Portugal’s Lajes Field

Home to 65th air base wing

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

While the United States Air Force was able to use Morón Air Base in southern Spain early in 2026 during the buildup phase, Spain soon shut it down to US forces. The airbase acts as an important aerial refueling airbase for aircraft flying from the United States to the Middle East. The ban led to a large number of US tanker aircraft departing from the base for other bases in Europe.

Around the same time, France, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland had all restricted US military flights related to Iran; Portugal said the United States was permitted to continue using its airbases on the condition that it didn’t strike civilian targets in Iran. The closure of Morón Air Base redoubled the already important position of Lajes Field in the Portuguese Azores Islands in the Mid-Atlantic.

Among other things, US B-2 Spirit bombers flying nonstop from airbases in the United States relied on refueling over Lajes Field. These were forced to fly the international corridor between Moroccan and Spanish airspace as they entered and exited the Mediterranean. Reuters wrote at the time, “Lajes Air Base is a ⁠strategic ​hub that hosts the 65th Air Base ​Wing of the U.S. Air Force, providing base and en route support for U.S., NATO and ​allied operations.”

The UK’s RAF Fairford

Home to 420th air base squadron

Credit: US Air Force

One of the European air bases that became the most iconic during 2026 was RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom. This is the European air base used by the United States for staging its strategic bombers. The base is central to the USAF’s ability to sustain a higher strategic bombing tempo. The US can fly its bombers nonstop from the mainland US, but the turnaround times, the wear and tear, and crew exhaustion collapse the sortie rate.

At first, the United Kingdom denied the US permission to base its bombers at RAF Fairford, but it soon relented. The US is also able to operate bombers from other forward bases like the UK’s Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, but these are seen as being too vulnerable to air strikes, with a risk that bombers could be destroyed on the ground.

RAF Fairford was heavily used by US B-52 and B-1B bombers, with plane-spotting enthusiasts able to approach the fence and get stunning views of the aircraft. As of the time of writing (July 2026), around two dozen B-1Bs remain stationed there, representing around half of the total fleet. The Oxford Mail writes, “RAF Fairford currently hosts about two dozen Rockwell B-1B Lancer strategic bombers, a recent deployment of Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, and a permanent detachment of Lockheed U-2S Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft.”

RAF Lakenheath

Home to 48th fighter wing

Credit: Department of Defense

RAF Lakenheath is an English air base used by the United States Air Force and hosts the greatest number of US fighter jet squadrons based in Europe. It hosts the 48th Fighter Wing, which is assigned two F-15E Strike Eagle and two F-35A Lightning II fighter jet squadrons. These operate around 48 F-15Es and 48 F-35As, potentially down to four F-15Es that were lost during operations in Iran.

These fighter jet squadrons played a central role in fighter jet operations during Operation Epic Fury. Operating almost 100 frontline fighter jets, this airbase has more fighter jets stationed than almost any other fighter base in Europe. For reference, the RAF only operates 47 F-35s (one was lost off an aircraft carrier) and 107 remaining Eurofighter Typhoons.

The only air forces in Europe with 100 or more frontline fighter jets are the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Greece, and Italy. RAF Lakenheath also facilitated the movement of other fighter jet squadrons, including those operating A-10C Warthog and F-22 Raptor fighters. In 2024 RAF Lakenheath was in the news for mysterious drone sightings over the base.

Ramstein Air Base

Home to 86th airlift wing

Credit: Department of Defense

It is difficult to talk about the United States’ presence in Europe without also mentioning Ramstein Air Base. Ramstein Air Base in Germany is central to US operations on the continent and is critical to the operation of NATO and the potential for the US to surge troops and supplies into the continent when needed. It is also a vital logistical hub for US operations in the Middle East.

In March 2026, Euro News reported that Germany was allowing the US to use Ramstein for operations in the Middle East. The article explained that the base “serves as the control hub for US operations in the Middle East. Data connections and satellite relays for drone operations pass through the facility because direct control from the United States would be too slow.“

In other words, direct control from the continental US would introduce latency, so the base acts as a forward node for targeting and oversight in the Middle East. Ramstein is known as the “Global Gateway” to Europe and beyond and is home to the largest stationing of US military personnel and civilian contractor personnel in Europe. Ramstein continues to be a focal point for transatlantic operations.

UK’s RAF Mildenhall

Home to the 100th air refueling wing

Credit: US Air Force

Highlighting the importance of the United Kingdom to US operations in the Middle East, the UK has a third airbase used by the US Air Force in this list. RAF Mildenhall is located in Suffolk, England, and its main use is to support the US 100th Air Refueling Wing. Simple Flying has previously reported how tanker aircraft are fundamental to the US Air Force’s ability to project air power around the world. The United States military is better understood as a logistical organization that also fights, rather than the other way around.

By some estimates, the US Air Force has 75% of the world’s aerial tankers. Like Lejas Field and Morón Air Base, RAF Mildenhall is a vital tanker base supporting US operations. And like Lejas, RAF Mildenhall only became more important after Spain denied the use of Morón. The base played an important role in building up assets in the Middle East, sustaining them, and then facilitating their return to the United States.

In May, a stricken KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft was seen patched up and limping back from the Middle East through RAF Mildenhall after being peppered with shrapnel damage. As with RAF Lakenheath, plane spotters have been able to approach the fence and get photos and videos of the USAF operating at the airbase. However, more recently, it seems US forces there have been using tractor-trailer trucks and tarps to at least try to block the view of Mildenhall from where the plane spotters typically gather.

Greece’s Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay

Home to 95th reconnaissance squadron

Credit: US Navy

Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay in Crete, Greece is another important node in the USAF’s network of European bases to sustain operations. It is also an important logistics and repair hub for US Naval vessels in the Mediterranean and saw the troubled USS Gerald R. Ford visit before and after taking part in operations. The USAF uses the airfield at Chania International Airport (Souda) (also known as Souda Bay/Chania Air Base facilities)

Souda Bay serves as a crucial strategic hub for U.S. European Command (EUCOM), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). Besides the US Navy, it also supports the Greek (Hellenic) Air Force and frequently supports US Air Force operations. For the USAF, one of its greatest uses is in-air refueling again. It is a major staging point for US tanker aircraft to refuel bombers and fighter jets as they fly from the United Kingdom or the Azores to the Middle East.

Souda Bay supports ship repair and maintenance, refueling, resupply, ammunition handling, aircraft support, and fleet logistics in the Eastern Mediterranean. It should be noted that there are more than six important US airbases in Europe that support Middle East operations, with more in Romania, Norway, and elsewhere, but it is not possible to list them all here. Other important bases not mentioned here include Aviano Air Base in Italy, Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, and Incirlik Air Base in Turkey.