The United States has withdrawn all of its B‑1 bomber aircraft from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, following an overnight intelligence briefing that raised the threat level at the base. The Pentagon confirmed the move on Sunday, saying a dozen B‑1 jets were returned to US bases.
The pull‑back comes after a police incident on 27 September, when officers were alerted to three suspicious vehicles near the airfield. Five men were initially arrested on terror charges and released on bail, with a sixth, a UK‑Iranian national, also detained.
A spokesperson for Number 10 London said the base is safe, refusing to comment on foreign forces but echoing President Donald Trump’s earlier praise of UK security forces. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the UK has tested defence protocols at Fairford.
The New York Times reported that US commanders had received new threats of an Iran‑backed plot against Fairford within the last 24 hours, prompting the rapid response.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were "strong indications" that Iran might have been involved, a claim the Iranian government denied. Tehran has previously warned that bases used for offensive action against Iranian territory are legitimate targets.
RAF Fairford has long been a forward operating base for US bombers, used for missions to the Middle East. The incident underscores the heightened security environment as the UK and US tighten counter‑terror operations.
