US withdraws B-1 bombers from UK Fairford base amid Iranian fears | Military news
This abrupt redeployment to the United States comes after several “terrorism-related” arrests took place outside RAF Fairford.
The United States has made the abrupt decision to withdraw its bombers from the Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Fairford in the west of the United Kingdom, citing concerns over a possible attack.
Media reported on Sunday that an urgent redeployment was underway, with B-1 bombers leaving RAF Fairford for the United States.
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Around a dozen of these planes were based at RAF Fairford before the sudden departure.
“While operational security has prevented us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real time, we can now acknowledge that all US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have been redeployed to their bases in the United States,” a Pentagon spokesperson told Al Jazeera.
“Airmen who operate America’s bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s, remain ready to provide global precision strike capabilities – including through launch and recovery operations from the continental United States – anywhere, at any time,” the official added.
It is unclear what prompted the withdrawal, which comes as the United States and Israel remain embroiled in a war with Iran.
RAF Fairford served as a staging point for American bombers participating in the war, which began more than seven months ago on February 28.
But the base, located around 100 miles west of London, is believed to have been the target of a “terrorist” plot involving Iran.
On September 27, British authorities arrested five men suspected of plotting to plant explosives near the base.
Iran denied the existence of such a plan and the men were released without charge a day later. Investigators found gasoline, but no explosive devices, in their vans. Yet British officials say they are still under investigation.
On Thursday, British police also announced that they had arrested a 25-year-old British-Iranian national in London on suspicion of planning an attack on the air base.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested last week that “Iran played a role” in the alleged plot, although he declined to provide details.
“The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the events in Gloucestershire is extremely complex and our specialist teams are investigating several lines of inquiry,” Vicki Evans, Senior National Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, said in a statement.
“As we have made clear, we are investigating all possible angles, including possible foreign state involvement.”
US President Donald Trump responded to the initial arrests by accusing the men of seeking to cause “great damage” to US facilities. He also praised the British authorities for their efforts.
“The arrest in the UK was fantastic. Working with Britain – it was an incredible job. We were investigated,” Trump said of the suspects. “We had our eyes on them for a long time and we got them. »
Iran, meanwhile, summoned the British ambassador to Tehran last week to protest the arrests.
The United States has a long history of stationing forces at RAF Fairford during its wars in the Middle East, dating back to the Gulf War in the 1990s.
RAF Fairford has been the scene of anti-war protests in the past. In 2003, five protesters broke into the air base in an attempt to destroy military equipment intended for use in the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
The United Kingdom has largely refused to participate in the ongoing war against Iran, despite pressure from the Trump administration.
Yet while the British government was initially reluctant to let the United States use its bases for war, it granted the United States “defensive” access to bases, including at Fairford and RAF Diego Garcia, in March.
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