WASHINGTON– The United States has returned all its bombers stationed at RAF Fairford in England to their home bases, days after British police arrested six people in connection with an alleged plot involving the airbase.
The Pentagon confirmed the aircraft had left the base in Gloucestershire, but did not say the move was directly linked to the arrests or specify whether a new threat had prompted the redeployment.
“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 redeployed to their home stations in the United States,” a Pentagon spokesperson said.
Aircraft tracking observers reported B-1 bombers leaving RAF Fairford on Sunday.
The base had hosted US bombers, including B-1s and B-52s, during military operations against Iran.
Six arrested in UK investigation
The withdrawal follows a counter-terrorism investigation that began after suspicious vehicles and people were reported near RAF Fairford on September 27.
Five British men were arrested near the base.
Police later arrested a sixth man, a dual British-Iranian national, in London. All six have since been released on bail as investigations continue.
Police said petrol was found in vans searched during the inquiry, but no explosives were discovered.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there are “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in the alleged plot.
Iran has denied the accusation and rejected any connection to the arrests.
Investigators have said they are considering all possible lines of inquiry, including potential foreign-state involvement.
Base used for US operations in the Middle East
RAF Fairford has long served as a staging point for US military operations beyond Europe.
More recently, American bombers based there were used in strikes against Iranian targets, making the base a focus of heightened security concerns.
The redeployment returns the aircraft to US home stations, but the Pentagon said America’s bomber force remained ready to carry out global missions.
It did not announce whether or when bombers would return to RAF Fairford.
