UK sanctions Israel after Netanyahu says London ignored Iranian‑backed plot at RAF Fairford
On October 1, 2026 the United Kingdom imposed a suite of sanctions on Israel after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had warned British authorities about an Iranian‑backed terror plot targeting RAF Fairford, only to see the UK release the suspected attackers on bail.
The move heightens already strained relations between the two allies and raises questions about how intelligence sharing will be handled in future joint security operations.
Netanyahu told Fox News host Sean Hannity that Israel provided “the intel that there was going to be an attack and it’s an Iranian‑sponsored attack” and that “the next day they slapped sanctions on us.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there are “strong indications” that Iran was involved in the incident and emphasized that the investigation remains “ongoing, complex, and serious.”
Police declared a “major incident” near RAF Fairford on Sunday after arresting five men in three vans on explosives charges; a bomb squad and a robot were deployed, but no viable devices were found.
All five suspects, British nationals in their twenties, were released on police bail on Monday following extensive interviews, with authorities insisting they remain under strict conditions while the probe continues.
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the bail decision, stating, “I’m surprised that they released them. I wouldn’t have done that.”
Former U.S. ambassador Mike Huckabee highlighted the controversy in a tweet on October 1, noting the “spat in Israel’s face” and questioning the UK’s stance.
The sanctions, announced alongside France and Canada in September, block imports from Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria, prohibit services supporting settlement expansion, and ban advertising for illegal West Bank settlements.
In retaliation, Israel ordered the British consulate in East Jerusalem to close within 30 days, adding diplomatic pressure to an already volatile situation.
British counter‑terrorism officials say the investigation will continue and that further diplomatic engagement is expected as both sides seek to clarify the intelligence exchange and the legal handling of the suspects.
