As American Bombers Take Off From R.A.F. Fairford in UK, Iraq War Looms Large
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U.S. resumes major bombing operations from British air base that launched 2003 Iraq War, reviving debate over Middle East military involvement.
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The United States is launching bombing missions in the Middle East from R.A.F. Fairford, a British air base that served as a staging ground for Iraq War operations two decades ago. The base was a focal point of antiwar protests in 2003 as the U.S. prepared for the invasion of Iraq, a conflict that proved controversial and costly. The resumption of major bombing operations from the same location revives memories of that divisive period and is likely to reignite debate over American military involvement in the region. R.A.F. Fairford's use as a U.S. hub in the Middle East underscores the enduring nature of American military commitments in the area despite the formal end of major combat operations in Iraq over a decade ago.
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