The United States Air Force has withdrawn its bomber fleet from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, following an investigation into an alleged planned terror attack at the base. According to a Pentagon official who spoke on Sunday on condition of anonymity, the bombers were redeployed back to their home bases in the United States.
A Pentagon spokesperson stated: “While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real time, we can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States.”
The departure was swift, with at least 10 B-1 bombers out of 12 flying out of the Gloucestershire base on Sunday. Some of these aircraft had arrived on rotation less than a week ago, a detail that underscores the haste of the withdrawal and the significant level of concern the US military has attributed to the threat. While the UK Ministry of Defence provided no immediate comment, the rapid nature of the withdrawal is expected to heighten local concerns regarding security at the base.
Reports from US media indicate the withdrawal is a response to fresh or renewed security concerns. According to the New York Times, American officials declined to specify the exact nature of the new information, though one official noted it was part of the same threat warnings that surfaced three weeks ago. The sense of urgency reportedly spiked within the past 24 hours, alarming commanders.
The investigation follows a security incident at RAF Fairford in late September. A dual British-Iranian national was arrested in central London last week on suspicion of plotting a terror attack. In total, six people have been taken into custody and subsequently released on bail during the investigation. While British authorities have linked the incident to Tehran, Iran has denied any involvement.
RAF Fairford, situated 100 miles (160 kilometres) west of London, has been utilized by American bombers for decades during conflicts in the Middle East. Its recent use followed permission from then prime minister Keir Starmer for Washington to use British bases for “defensive” strikes against Tehran.
The US military maintains a significant presence in the Middle East. On Thursday, a US official confirmed that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and the USS Malkin Island amphibious readiness group—a fleet carrying more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines—were heading to the region. This move could result in three carriers being stationed in the area as early as the end of October.
