U.S. Pulls Bombers From RAF Fairford After Suspected Iran-Linked Terror Plot

The United States Air Force has pulled its fleet of B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, following an investigation into an alleged planned terror attack at the base. At least 10 of 12 deployed bombers flew out Sunday, with some having arrived less than a week prior, underscoring the urgency of the withdrawal.

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed the move on Sunday, telling reporters: "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."

The withdrawal follows the arrest of a dual British-Iranian national in central London last week on suspicion of plotting a terror attack, coming after a security incident at RAF Fairford in late September. Six people have been taken into custody and subsequently released on bail during the investigation.

According to reporting by the New York Times, American officials declined to specify the nature of the new information that prompted the rapid withdrawal, but one official stated that "the new information was part of the same threat warnings that surfaced three weeks ago, with specific details and a sense of urgency spiking in the past 24 hours, alarming commanders."

British authorities have linked the incident to Tehran, though Iran has denied any involvement. RAF Fairford has been used by American bombers during decades of conflicts in the Middle East, with its recent use coming after former Prime Minister Keir Starmer granted Washington permission to use British bases for "defensive" strikes against Tehran.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region. The Pentagon recently announced that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and the USS Makin Island amphibious readiness group — together carrying more than 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines — are heading toward the Middle East, potentially positioning three carrier groups in the region by the end of October.

Reporting by The Guardian. Read the original report: US bombers pulled from RAF Fairford base after suspected terror plot.

Additional sourcing from The New York Times: U.S. Rushes to Withdraw Bombers From U.K. Air Base After New Threats.