Washington confirmed the aircraft had returned to U.S. bases. British officials said RAF Fairford was secure as investigators continued to examine suspicious activity near the site.
President Donald Trump said on October 5 that the United States had moved its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Britain because of threats he associated with Iran. The Pentagon confirmed the redeployment a day earlier, saying all U.S. bombers at the base had returned to their home stations. Fairford has been used by Washington for operations against Iran.
The move followed a police investigation launched after a farmer reported suspicious activity near the base on September 27, including several vans and masked men. Five people arrested at the time and a British-Iranian national detained later were released on bail. Counter-terrorism police said no explosives were found in the vans, although some fuel was recovered.
Trump declined to confirm reports that the threat involved drones, but said those responsible would face consequences. He said they would be linked to Iran. Two U.S. officials cited by The New York Times said commanders received new information about a suspected Iran-backed plot and that the situation had become urgent in the previous 24 hours. The report did not establish Tehran’s involvement.
Iran’s embassy in London categorically rejected the allegation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was confident in the security of American bases and praised Britain’s cooperation with the investigation. A British government spokesman also said Fairford was safe. The investigation is continuing, and police have not commented on British media reports about how they were alerted.