The U.S. Air Force has pulled all bombers from RAF Fairford in England, sending them back to the United States a week after six people were arrested on suspicion of plotting terrorist acts near the base, defense officials confirmed.
A Pentagon official said on Sunday that a dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at the base, located northwest of London, and had been used for U.S. strikes on Iran. A defense official confirmed to Task & Purpose that B-1s, B-2s and B-52s have all left the base.
“While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States,” a Pentagon spokesman said in a statement.
“The airmen that operate America’s bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities — including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States — anywhere, anytime,” the statement continued.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the bombers’ movement. The official did not give a specific reason for the move.
Five people were arrested in the early hours of Sept. 27 after three vans were seen driving toward the base. British authorities set up a large security cordon around the base and a nearby village, with explosive ordnance teams brought in. A sixth individual, a 25-year-old British-Iranian dual national, was arrested Thursday in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. All six have been released on bail.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” that Iran was involved in the suspected plot, which Tehran has denied. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident “involves the hands of a foreign actor.” President Donald Trump said those involved had planned “big damage.”
RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, has been heavily used by the Air Force in support of operations against Iran. B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer bombers staged at the base before heading to the Middle East on missions. British counterterrorism police are continuing to investigate the incident.
Sources: Military.com · Task & Purpose