U.S. Air Force bombers stationed in the U.K. have returned to their bases in the United States. This follows a suspected terror plot that U.S. officials suggest may be linked to Iran targeting a U.S. military facility, as reported by officials.
About a dozen B-1 bombers were part of the aircraft removed from Royal Air Force (RAF) Station Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, according to a U.S. official. This base serves as the primary European forward operating location for American heavy bombers.
A department official stated, “We can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States.” The Pentagon assured that despite this relocation, the bomber fleet remains ready to launch long-range strike missions from the continental United States at any time.
A U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber at RAF Fairford in England is a key European base for U.S. bomber operations. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
The aircraft and personnel of the U.S. bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, maintain readiness to perform precision global strike capabilities. This includes operations launched from and recovered in the continental United States.
RAF Fairford is important for heavy American strategic bombers supporting U.S. military missions, such as those targeting Iranian sites. Last Sunday, U.K. officials discovered three suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford containing fuel accelerants.
Officials confirmed no improvised explosive devices were found, but a quantity of petrol was recovered. Authorities began investigating potential links to Iranian state proxies, leading to the arrest of a British-Iranian dual national “on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio later commented that the suspected plot “involves the hands of a foreign actor.”
President Donald Trump also mentioned the incident’s possible connection to Iran, a country the United States has been in conflict with since February.
Ground crews prepare a U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber at RAF Fairford. About a dozen B-1 bombers returned to the United States. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Six arrests were made, including five British nationals in their early 20s. Police released all suspects on bail, and the investigation continues. A police official noted, “I understand this development may surprise many, but it was an investigative decision based on experience and careful consideration of policing powers.”