The United States has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, following a security incident near the military base that is being investigated by counterterrorism police.
A Pentagon official confirmed on Sunday that the bombers had returned to their respective bases in the United States. Tracking websites showed several B-1 Lancer heavy bombers departing RAF Fairford on Sunday, with the number believed to be around a dozen.
Washington has not publicly stated why the aircraft were withdrawn. However, the move came shortly after police were alerted on September 27 to three suspicious vehicles near the Gloucestershire airbase. Sources in Whitehall did not rule out a connection between the incident and the US decision, according to the BBC.
The decision was described as a military and operational matter rather than a political one. The US military reportedly informed its British counterparts about the move, while the UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
Five people, aged between 23 and 25, were initially arrested in the early hours after reports of vehicles travelling towards the base. All five are UK citizens from London. They were first detained on suspicion of explosives-related offences and later on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism. Counterterrorism police subsequently released them on bail, describing the decision as part of an investigative strategy based on experience and operational tactics.
A sixth person, a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested in London on Thursday on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism. Counterterrorism police confirmed on Saturday that he had also been released on bail.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham later said there were “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in the incident, without providing further details. Tehran has firmly denied any involvement.
Before the sixth arrest, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that there was “clearly a foreign power” behind the incident, although he declined to elaborate, citing restrictions on what could be disclosed publicly.
US President Donald Trump said he was surprised that the five initial suspects had been released on bail. He said the United States knew “everything” about them and would not have released them, while adding that Britain had been working very closely with Washington on the matter.
RAF Fairford has served for decades as a forward operating base for the US Air Force. In recent months, B-1 and B-52 bombers have flown from the base towards the Middle East after Britain allowed the United States to use the facility for operations linked to defensive strikes against Iran.
In July, Iran warned that any military base used in attacks against Iranian territory could be considered a “legitimate target” by its armed forces.
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