US Pulls All Bombers From UK's RAF Fairford After Suspected Terror Plot
Pentagon confirms B-1s used in Iran strikes have returned home but gives no reason for the move
3 min read
File photo: Two US Air Force B-1B Lancers fly over RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, in October 2023. Photo: Senior Airman Ryan Hayman, U.S. Air Force, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The United States has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, the British air base used for strikes on Iran, a week after several men were arrested near the site on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.
The Pentagon confirmed the move on Sunday but did not say when the aircraft left or give a reason for the decision.
What the Pentagon said
"While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States," a Pentagon spokesperson said in a statement reported by Reuters.
A dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at the Gloucestershire base, according to Reuters. The Wall Street Journal first reported that the aircraft had been moved amid security concerns over suspected plots against the facility.
A military decision, not a political one
According to the BBC, Whitehall sources have not disputed that Washington's decision was a response to the incident at Fairford. The BBC said it was told the move was a military rather than a political decision, taken at an operational level and communicated from the US military to its British counterparts. The UK's Ministry of Defence has not commented.
The suspected plot
Police were alerted on 27 September to three "suspicious vehicles" near the base, the BBC reported. Five men were initially arrested on suspicion of terror offences and later released on police bail. A sixth man, a UK-Iranian national, was arrested in London on Thursday on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and was also released on bail, counter-terror police said.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last week there were "strong indications" that Iran had played a part in the incident, but gave no further details. Tehran has strongly denied any involvement, called the accusations baseless and summoned the British ambassador, according to Reuters and the BBC.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News that the incident "clearly involve[d] the hands of a foreign actor". President Donald Trump said he was "surprised" the first five men had been released on bail.
Why Fairford matters
The UK approved a US request to use Fairford for what it called defensive strikes on Iran, and US bombers have flown from the base to the Middle East in recent months. In July, Iran warned that "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces".
The withdrawal comes as Washington weighs its next step on Iran and Tehran insists the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until its conditions are met.
