WASHINGTON (Realist English). The United States has withdrawn all B-1 bombers from the British Royal Air Force base at Fairford, which had been used for strikes on Iran. This was reported by a Pentagon official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss sensitive military movements.
What happened
“We can confirm that all US bombers deployed at RAF Fairford have been relocated to their bases in the United States,” the Pentagon said in a statement. The department’s representative noted that “for operational security reasons” the US could not confirm the movement of assets and forces in real time.
Before the withdrawal, about twelve B-1 bombers were stationed at the base, located approximately 160 kilometers west of London. Observers, including the Military Air Tracking Alliance, recorded a mass departure of B-1s from the base on Sunday.
Background: alleged terrorist threat
The withdrawal came a week after British police detained five men in their twenties near the base on September 27. According to police, no explosive devices were found during searches of vehicles, but some gasoline was seized. Later, another suspect was detained — a British-Iranian citizen. All six were released on bail, and the investigation continues.
Positions of the parties
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated there were “serious indications” of Iranian involvement in the alleged plot. US President Donald Trump said those involved in the plot were planning “major damage.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed to “the involvement of a foreign entity,” without specifying which country.
Iran categorically rejected the accusations. Tehran summoned the British ambassador for explanations, calling the suspicions “baseless.”
Significance for combat capabilities
The Pentagon emphasized that US bomber aviation, including the B-1, B-2, and B-52, “remains ready to deliver precision strikes on a global scale, including in operations launched and recovered from the continental United States.”
However, analysts note that the withdrawal of bombers from Fairford changes the deployment scheme. The base served as a forward point to reduce the distance to targets in the Middle East. Now strikes will require longer distances, aerial refueling, and additional logistics resources.
The official reason for the withdrawal was cited as security considerations, not a change in policy toward Iran. British sources cited by the BBC do not deny a connection between the decision and the September 27 incident.
