The United States Air Force has withdrawn all of its heavy bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire following a major security incident that triggered a British counter-terrorism investigation.
Flight-tracking websites recorded American Rockwell B-1 Lancer heavy bombers departing the military airfield on Sunday to return to the United States. According to U.S. officials cited by The New York Times, commanders received updated intelligence regarding an alleged Iran-backed plot targeting the airbase, prompting operational commanders to move the aircraft quickly out of the station. The aircraft took off while aerial refueling tankers were still being scrambled to support their trans-Atlantic flights.
The operational departure follows a Sept. 27 incident in which British police were alerted to three suspicious vehicles traveling toward the airfield, which has long served as a key forward operating location for the U.S. Air Force.
Counter-terrorism officers initially arrested five UK nationals from London, aged between 23 and 25, on suspicion of explosives offences and preparing a terrorist act. All five were subsequently released on bail in what police characterized as an investigative decision grounded in strategy. On Thursday, a sixth suspect—a 25-year-old UK-Iranian national—was arrested in London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and was also later released on bail.
Whitehall sources did not dispute that Washington’s decision to pull the bombers was made in response to the security incident in Gloucestershire. Communication of the withdrawal was made directly from the U.S. military to its British counterparts at an operational level rather than through political channels. The UK Ministry of Defence has not commented on the military movements.
Following the initial arrests, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were “strong indications” that Iran had played a role in the airbase incident. The government in Tehran has strongly denied any involvement.
RAF Fairford has been used by the U.S. Air Force for decades. In recent months, the U.S. military deployed B-1 and B-52 bombers from the base for operations in the Middle East after the UK government approved a request to use the airfield for defensive strikes against Iran.
Sources
– BBC News World:
– [BBC News World](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmwyve191dlko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)
Source: BBC News World
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Story synopsis gathered from: BBC News World — source
