Three US Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers have landed on British soil in an ominous sign the conflict raging in Iran is set to reach a new level. Each of the foreboding aircraft is capable of carrying 31 tonnes of explosives which could obliterate Iranian regime positions in the Middle East.

The world has been thrown into turmoil since Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran after claiming the Islamic Republic was seeking to develop nuclear weapons despite ongoing negotiations. Since the attack on February 28 the Middle East has seen multiple rocket and drone strikes between Iran and Israel and on other nations in the region. Iran has fired drones and missiles at countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and even Cyrus as it claims it is targeting countries playing host to American bases.

Sir Keir Starmer has angered US President Donald Trump after it emerged he initially refused permission for American aircraft to use RAF bases as part of the operation against Iran. The Prime Minister has since U-turned after being publicly lambasted by Trump who said the PM was "no Winston Churchill".

Now three US B-52 bombers have landed today (Monday) at RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire. The deployment comes after Trump said "the big one" is coming in the war against Iran.

Photographs taken at the RAF base showed flight crew of a one of the B-52 Stratofortress bombers, named the "Iron Butterfly", smiling and posing with the US flag and a flag with name "Barons", and motto "In Hoc Signo Vinces", Latin for "In this sign we conquer".

According to the US Air Force, the £1.4billion aircraft is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters). It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability.

During Operation Desert Storm in Iraq in the early 1990s, B-52s delivered 40 percent of all the weapons dropped by coalition forces.

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Sir Keir spoke to Trump over the weekend about the countries' military co-operation in the region, in what appeared to be a positive signal a day after the US president lashed out at him in a social media post and suggested the UK's help was too late.

Trump has repeatedly hit out at the PM's decision not to grant permission for the first wave of military action against Iran.

The prime minister later granted permission for "defensive" US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases and American bombers have begun operations from RAF Fairford.

After reports the UK was preparing the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier to go to the Middle East, Mr Trump said "we don't need them any longer" and that "we don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!".

No decisions have yet been taken to deploy the warship.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has urged the Prime Minister to call off the King's state visit to the US over Mr Trump's "illegal war" and as the US leader "repeatedly insults and damages our country". Meanwhile, UK forces engaged an attack drone fired from Iran to Iraq as RAF Typhoons and F-35 jets conduct defensive sorties across the region.

And a Merlin helicopter that can fly up to a mile in height and give advance warning of incoming drones or missiles is due to join.