US withdraws B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford after terror plot arrests
The US flew all its long-range bombers out of the English airbase on Sunday, weeks after a suspected Iran-linked terror plot targeted the site.
The US Air Force has flown all of its B-1 long-range bombers out of RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire back to bases in the United States, Sweden's Dagens Nyheter and Austria's Die Presse reported on Sunday. A Pentagon spokesman confirmed the withdrawal, saying the aircraft remain "ready to deploy from the United States, any time, anywhere," according to Dagens Nyheter.
The move follows a security scare at the base in late September. Five men were arrested overnight on 27 September after approaching Fairford in three vans, triggering a major counter-terrorism police operation that included a bomb-disposal robot, Die Presse reported. Investigators initially suspected the vans carried explosives, but British police later said they found only large quantities of petrol. All five, British citizens in their twenties, were released on bail the day after their arrest.
A sixth suspect, a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national, was arrested in London on 1 October under terrorism legislation and was also released on bail under strict conditions, Die Presse reported. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there are "strong indications" that Iran played a role in the incident, Sky News reported, according to Dagens Nyheter. Iran has denied any involvement.
British media, including the Daily Telegraph, say investigators regard Iranian involvement as the most likely explanation, noting that direct state involvement would differ from Iran's past reliance on proxy groups, Gazeta.pl reported. Iran warned in July that any base used for strikes on its territory would be treated as a legitimate target for its forces, Die Presse said.
Fairford has hosted US bomber missions against Iran since March, when the previous government allowed American forces to use the base for strikes it described as defensive, after the United States and Israel began their campaign against Iran. At the height of that campaign, more than two dozen US bombers were stationed at Fairford, Europe's most-used forward operating base for the US Air Force, Die Presse reported.
Washington is not easing military pressure on Iran despite the withdrawal from Britain. The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island, carrying thousands of troops, are now heading toward the Middle East, Gazeta.pl reported, with analysts cited by the Polish outlet saying the US could have three carriers in the region by the end of October.
What we know
- 1 outlet · Dagens Nyheter, Gazeta.pl +1 All US B-1 bombers have been flown from RAF Fairford back to the United States, the Pentagon confirmed.
- 1 outlet · Dagens Nyheter The withdrawal follows the arrest of five men near the base on 27 September; police found petrol, not explosives, in their vans, and all five were released on bail.
- 1 outlet · Dagens Nyheter A sixth suspect, a British-Iranian dual national, was arrested in London on 1 October under terrorism law and also bailed.
- 1 outlet · Dagens Nyheter Prime Minister Andy Burnham says there are "strong indications" of Iranian involvement; Iran denies any role.
- 1 outlet · Dagens Nyheter Fairford has hosted US bomber missions against Iran since March, when the base was authorised for strikes described as defensive.
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed British media reports that twelve aircraft were involved in the withdrawal have not been officially confirmed by the Pentagon.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
Fairford's bombers have been central to US and Israeli air operations against Iran since March, making the Gloucestershire base a potential target as the conflict continues. A credible plot against a US-run airbase on British soil raises the stakes for domestic security in the UK and for other European countries hosting American forces.
The case also touches wider diplomatic tension: Iran has publicly threatened retaliation against any base used against it, and British officials say they suspect direct Iranian involvement rather than the proxy attacks Tehran has relied on before, a different kind of threat to military sites in Europe than Iran has used in the past.
Sources
Reported by 5 reports from 5 independent outlets in 4 countries.
- Dagens Nyheter: USA har flyttat bombflygplan från RAF-basen i England
- Gazeta.pl: Ewakuacja bombowcw B-1. Amerykanie wycofali samoloty z bazy w Anglii po zagrożeniu zamachem
- Evening Standard: Injured Alex Scott withdraws from England squad as Bournemouth star faces months out
- Die Presse: Angst vor iranischem Anschlag: Das steckt hinter dem Abzug aller US-Langstreckenbomber aus England [premium]
- Daily Mirror: Brits issued urgent Covid warning as England sees surge of 'American' variant as number in hospital rises
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Why did the US move its bombers out of RAF Fairford?
- The US withdrew its B-1 bombers after a suspected terror plot targeting the base in late September, which British officials suspect was linked to Iran.
- Were any explosives found at the Fairford incident?
- No. British police said they found only large quantities of petrol in the vans, not explosives.
- Has Iran commented on the allegations?
- Iran has denied any involvement in the plot, though it previously warned that bases used for strikes on its territory would be considered legitimate targets.
This article was written with AI assistance from 5 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.