US Withdraws Bombers After Fairford Security Incident

The United States has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire base used by the US Air Force, following an incident now under investigation by counter-terrorism police. A US department official confirmed that the aircraft—believed to include about a dozen B-1 bombers—had returned to their home stations in America. Washington did not state why it ordered the withdrawal. UK sources have not disputed that the move was a response to the incident, though the BBC was told it was an operational military decision communicated between the US and British militaries rather than a political one. The Ministry of Defence declined to comment. On 27 September, police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the base. Five men, all UK nationals from London, were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later suspected preparation of a terrorist act. They were subsequently released on 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. Police described the decisions as investigative and based on experience and strategy. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were strong indications Iran had played a part, without providing details; Tehran denied involvement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident clearly involved a foreign actor, while President Donald Trump expressed surprise that the first five men had been released on bail. RAF Fairford has served as a US forward operating location for decades. The US recently used it to fly B-1 and B-52 bombers toward the Middle East after the UK approved its use for defensive strikes on Iran. Iran had warned that bases used for aggression against its territory could be legitimate targets. The article notes that US B-1s carried bunker-busting bombs and air-to-surface missiles, and that missions could take 12 to 15 hours. The Pentagon said US bombers remained capable of missions anywhere, including from the continental United States.

The U.S. Air Force has withdrawn all bombers deployed to RAF Fairford in England and returned them to their home stations in the United States, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to CBS News. The move follows a security incident near the base, which has been used by American bombers to strike Iran. The spokesperson said U.S. bombers routinely deploy worldwide to support readiness and operational needs, and that B-1, B-2 and B-52 crews remain able to conduct precision strikes from bases in the continental United States or elsewhere. On Sept. 27, five British men in their 20s from London were arrested near RAF Fairford on suspicion of explosives and terror offenses. Police reported finding gasoline, an accelerant, in three vans linked to the suspects, but no explosives. The five men were subsequently released on bail. A 25-year-old dual U.K.-Iranian national was arrested separately in London on suspicion of plotting a terror attack; counterterrorism police later said he, too, had been released on bail. U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were strong indications Iran had played a part in the incident, while emphasizing that the investigation remained ongoing and complex and that British officials were working with the United States. Iranian officials have previously warned that bases used to attack Iran could be considered legitimate targets. However, Iran’s embassy in London rejected what it called unfounded and malicious speculation linking the country to the incident. The article reports the bomber withdrawal and competing claims about possible Iranian involvement, without presenting a conclusion about responsibility.

The United States has withdrawn all of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in southwest England, about a week after five British men were arrested on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks near the base. A Pentagon spokesman confirmed that the bombers had returned to their home stations in the United States, while noting that operational security prevented the military from confirming the aircraft movements in real time. Aircraft-monitoring sites had reported the B-1s leaving Fairford on Sunday. About a dozen bombers had been stationed at the base, which the US uses for military operations. The UK had previously permitted American aircraft to fly missions from Fairford against Iranian missile sites that were described as threatening ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The arrests followed a report from a local farmer, who alerted police after seeing several men in vans behaving suspiciously at the base. Police cordoned off the area and called in bomb-disposal teams, but no explosives were found in the vehicles. The five British nationals detained in connection with the incident were later released on bail. US President Donald Trump criticized their release. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that Britain had “strong indications” Iran was involved in the suspected plot targeting the base. Iran rejected the allegation as baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to discuss it. The article reports the bomber withdrawal and recounts the competing claims and developments surrounding the investigation, but does not state that the arrests caused the aircraft to leave.

The Pentagon confirmed that all US B-1 bombers deployed to RAF Fairford in southwest England have returned to their home stations in the United States. The aircraft’s departure followed a security incident at the base, which led to the evacuation of 85 nearby homes. A Pentagon official said the military had been unable to confirm the movement in real time because of operational security concerns. Police were called to the airbase after a farmer reported suspicious activity involving men and several vans. The farmer, who was in the nearby village of Whelford, said three vans were blocking a road and masked men were fleeing. Aerial footage showed barrels in the vans; at least one vehicle carried a fake logo and phone number that made it appear to belong to a legitimate diesel delivery company. Investigators found no explosives, but recovered a quantity of petrol. Five London-based British men in their mid-20s were arrested and later released on bail. Their release drew criticism from US President Donald Trump, who said he would not have made the same decision. Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that a foreign actor was involved. Iran’s embassy in London rejected speculation that Tehran had a role, saying it categorically condemned the suggestion. The article notes that the incident’s motive remained uncertain, with speculation ranging from a terrorist threat to fuel theft as UK energy prices reached record highs. RAF Fairford has been used for US operations, including strikes on Iran, following Britain’s March authorization for specific defensive operations into the country. It is the only airbase on mainland Britain used for that purpose. Security at the base had reportedly been heightened recently.