US pulls all bombers from UK base after new threat
The United States has withdrawn all long-range Air Force bombers deployed at RAF Fairford in Britain and returned them to their home stations in the US following what a US official described as a “real world” new threat to the base. The move comes days after British police arrested several people over an alleged Iranian plot targeting the airbase, where US B-1 bombers had been stationed as part of operations against Iran.
A US official confirmed that all bombers deployed to Fairford had been redeployed to their American home stations but provided no details about the specific threat. The decision is considered unusual because the aircraft were returned to the US rather than being moved to another regional base.
Security concerns intensified after British police arrested five men, aged 23 to 25, on September 27 on suspicion of terrorism and explosives offences near Fairford. No explosives were found in three vans linked to the arrests, and the suspects were later released on bail. A 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national was subsequently arrested in connection with the alleged plot.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” that Iran was involved, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a foreign actor was believed to have been involved. Iran has denied any role, calling the allegations baseless.
The US withdrawal is significant because Fairford serves as an operating location for US Global Strike Command, which oversees long-range strike capabilities. CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas said the removal of all the bombers was unusual and underscored the seriousness of the threat facing the base.
