Washington (TDI): The United States has withdrawn all B-1 bomber aircraft deployed to Britain’s RAF Fairford and returned them to bases in the US following a security incident near the airbase, the Pentagon confirmed.
The withdrawal came about a week after British authorities arrested several men near the Gloucestershire facility, which has been used by the US military for operations against Iran. A Pentagon official said all American bombers stationed at Fairford had now been redeployed to their home stations, citing operational security for the lack of earlier confirmation, according to AFP.
The security incident happened on September 27 when police were alerted after a local farmer reported seeing several vans and a group of men behaving suspiciously near the base. The incident prompted the evacuation of around 85 homes in the nearby village of Whelford as counter-terrorism officers examined the vehicles.
British investigators said no explosives were found in the vans, although a quantity of petrol was recovered. Five London-based British men in their 20s were arrested in connection with the incident and later released on bail. A sixth suspect, a dual British-Iranian national, was subsequently arrested in London in connection with the wider investigation. All six have since been released on bail.
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The investigation has raised questions over possible foreign involvement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a “foreign actor” was involved, while British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said authorities had identified strong indications of Iranian involvement. Neither government has publicly established that Iran ordered or directed the alleged plot. Tehran has rejected the allegations, calling suggestions of Iranian involvement baseless.
Iran has previously warned that military facilities used to conduct attacks against its territory could become targets. The Fairford base has been particularly significant during the conflict because US B-1 bombers operating from the facility have been involved in strikes against Iranian targets.
The United States had been operating roughly a dozen B-1 bombers from Fairford. Their withdrawal represents a change in the deployment of US long-range strike aircraft in Britain, although the Pentagon has emphasized that American bombers can continue to support global operations from bases in the United States.
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President Donald Trump has criticized the decision by British authorities to release the suspects on bail, while British counter-terrorism officials have stressed that the investigation remains active. Police have continued examining possible links between the suspects, the vehicles and any foreign actors that may have been involved.
