The United States removed its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford air base in the United Kingdom on Sunday, following reports of security concerns and a suspected terror plot. A Pentagon official confirmed that all aircraft previously stationed at the base, located northwest of London, have been returned to their home stations in the United States. The movement occurred approximately one week after British authorities arrested several individuals near the facility on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.
The relocation follows a series of arrests and investigations involving the Royal Air Force (RAF) base. On September 27, police arrested five British men, ages 23 to 25, on suspicion of terror and explosives offenses. Although no explosives were found in three vans at the scene, the men were released on bail. Additionally, a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national was arrested on Thursday in connection with the same investigation. The base has served as an operating location for U.S. Global Strike Command, supporting strikes against Iranian missile sites that were involved in attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Pentagon officials stated that operational security prevented them from confirming the aircraft movements in real-time, but they acknowledged the redeployments on Sunday. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham both indicated that the suspected plot involved a "foreign actor," with Burnham specifically citing "strong indications" of Iranian involvement. Iran has denied these allegations, calling them baseless, and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to protest the accusations.
What happens next depends on the ongoing British police investigation and the status of those currently on bail. The five men arrested on September 27 remain under investigation, while the British-Iranian dual national arrested on October 1 is also part of the legal proceedings. No specific court dates for these individuals were reported. The U.S. military has not provided a timeline for when, or if, the bombers will return to RAF Fairford. British Prime Minister Burnham stated that the government would provide more information on the suspected plot "in due course."