The United States has withdrawn all of its B-1B Lancer bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain following security concerns linked to a suspected plot targeting the base, according to US officials.
The Pentagon confirmed that all US bombers deployed to the Gloucestershire base had returned to their home stations in the United States, although it said the aircraft remained capable of carrying out global strike missions from the continental US.
Around a dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at Fairford, which has served as a major forward operating base for US air operations against Iran.
The withdrawal follows a major British counter-terrorism investigation into suspicious activity close to the base on September 27.
Five British men in their 20s were arrested after police received reports of three suspicious vehicles travelling towards Fairford. Investigators later said petrol was recovered from the vehicles but no explosives were found.
A sixth suspect, a dual British-Iranian national, was subsequently arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. All six suspects have since been released on bail while the investigation continues.
Britain’s Counter Terrorism Policing has stressed that investigators are examining several possibilities, including potential involvement by a foreign state.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there are “strong indications” that Iran played a role in the incident, although British authorities have not formally established Tehran’s responsibility. Iran has denied involvement.
The Wall Street Journal, citing a senior US official, reported that Washington believes a branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps recruited British nationals for a multi-stage operation intended to damage US aircraft and kill personnel at the base.
That allegation has not been independently confirmed by British investigators.
RAF Fairford, about 145 kilometres west of London, has become particularly important to Washington during the conflict with Iran, providing a European operating location for long-range US bombers.
The Pentagon said operational security had prevented it from discussing the movements while they were under way but confirmed after their departure that the Fairford bomber force had been redeployed.
The move significantly reduces the US strategic bomber presence at the British base, although Washington says the aircraft can continue conducting long-range missions directly from bases in the United States.
