At least 12 aircraft were redeployed to the United States as British authorities investigate an alleged attack plan linked to a security incident at the base.
The U.S. Air Force has withdrawn all bombers stationed at RAF Fairford in England and returned them to bases in the United States, NBC News reported, citing a Pentagon official. The move followed an investigation into a suspected plan to attack the base. The official said the aircraft had been redeployed to their home stations and that U.S. bombers remained ready to carry out long-range operations from the continental United States.
Two Pentagon officials told NBC that at least 12 aircraft were moved, including several that had only recently arrived as part of a rotation. Aviation monitors had tracked B-1 and B-52 bombers operating from Fairford since the start of the war with Iran. The base, about 100 miles west of London, has supported U.S. bombing campaigns in the Middle East for decades.
The withdrawal comes after a security incident at Fairford in late September. A dual British-Iranian national was arrested in central London last week on suspicion of plotting a terror attack. Six people have been taken into custody and released on bail during the investigation. British authorities have linked the incident to Tehran. Iran denies involvement. The reports do not establish that the alleged plot was directed by Iran.
President Donald Trump is weighing options for the conflict with Iran, including further strikes. U.S. naval forces are also moving toward the region. Officials told NBC that the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier and an amphibious group were heading there, a deployment that could bring the number of carrier groups in the region to three by the end of October.
The Pentagon said the bomber force remains prepared to conduct precision strikes from the United States. The relocation removes the aircraft from Fairford while keeping them within reach of long-range operations, as security investigators continue examining the suspected plot and tensions over Iran remain high.