US withdraws all its B-1 bombers from UK base at Fairford following alleged foiled terrorist plot

The United States withdrew all its B-1 bombers from the RAF air base in Fairford, in the United Kingdom, due to security concerns over alleged terrorist plots against the facilities, U.S. officials confirmed on Sunday. Until recently, there were a dozen aircraft stationed there.

The base, northwest of London, was the point from which Washington launched bomber strikes against Iran. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon acknowledged the withdrawal in a statement, stating that "all U.S. bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States" and that they remain ready to strike from U.S. territory. The British Ministry of Defense declined to comment.

The decision comes a week after the arrest of six suspects in connection with an alleged attack on the base that, according to authorities from both countries, was foiled. Five of them traveled to Fairford in three white vans that, according to British police, were not carrying explosives but were loaded with fuel. They were detained after one member of the group called the police to warn them about the plan. A sixth man, a dual British-Iranian citizen, was arrested days later. All were released on bail while the investigation continues.

The WSJ reported that U.S. officials were aware of an Iran-linked plot to attack the aircraft and kill base personnel. According to a senior official, a branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had recruited British citizens to carry it out, involving several steps, including a diversionary maneuver in a nearby neighborhood. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke of "strong indications" that Iran played a role. Tehran denies this, and some British officials doubt how sophisticated the planned attack actually was.

Trump had already said that the detainees intended to cause serious damage to the base and questioned the U.K.'s decision to release them. "I would not have released them," he stated.

The U.S. presence at Fairford is controversial in the United Kingdom, whose government initially refused to allow attacks against Iran from there but later relented, on the condition that they be defensive missions. Following the incident, British defense officials called for strengthening the protection of their bases, particularly against drones, and the United States raised alert levels at Lakenheath, where it has F-35 and F-15E fighter jets.