US Withdraws B-1 Bombers from UK Base Amid Iran Threat

The United States withdrew 12 B-1 bomber aircraft from RAF Fairford in southern England over the weekend due to new security warnings regarding a suspected Iran-backed plot targeting the military installation. This rapid withdrawal was described as highly unusual, occurring thousands of miles from an active combat zone.

Some bombers and crews departed before aerial-refueling aircraft were fully positioned. By Sunday, at least three bombers had returned to their home base in South Dakota.

The Pentagon confirmed that all US bombers at RAF Fairford had returned to the United States but did not confirm the Iranian threat due to operational-security concerns. The urgency of the withdrawal followed a counter-terrorism investigation by British authorities after five men were arrested near the base with suspicious vans containing petrol.

A sixth individual, a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, was arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated strong indications of Iranian involvement, which Tehran denied.