US pulls all B-1 bombers out of RAF Fairford after suspected Iran-linked terror plot
The Pentagon has confirmed that every US bomber deployed to RAF Fairford has been flown home, one week after arrests over a suspected terrorist plot targeting the Gloucestershire base.
The United States has removed all of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford, the Pentagon confirmed on Sunday, one week after several men were arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts targeting the Gloucestershire air base.
A dozen B-1 bombers had been stationed at Fairford, northwest of London, and the aircraft had been used for US strikes on Iran, Reuters reported. The Wall Street Journal first reported the withdrawal.
“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 re-deployed to their home stations in the United States,” a Pentagon spokesman wrote in an email, according to Reuters.
The Associated Press, citing a Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss sensitive military movements, reported that the bombers were brought home following the investigation into a planned terror attack at the base. Aviation watchers observed B-1 bombers flying out of Fairford on Sunday.
Britain had allowed the US to use Fairford-based bombers to strike Iranian missile sites that were attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Wednesday that Britain had “strong indications” Iran was involved in the suspected plot. Iran said the accusations were baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran.
President Donald Trump said those involved in the plot had planned “big damage”, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed to the “hands of a foreign actor”.
Last week a dual British-Iranian national was arrested in central London on suspicion of plotting a terror attack following the Fairford security incident in late September. In total, six people have been taken into custody and then released on bail during the investigation, the AP reported. Iran has denied involvement and has previously said it considers any base used to attack its territory a legitimate target.
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