The United States has withdrawn its bomber force from RAF Fairford in southern England after British authorities opened a terrorism investigation involving a suspected plot near the base. The aircraft were returned to their home stations in the United States as security concerns increased around the Gloucestershire installation.
The Pentagon confirmed Sunday that all U.S. bombers deployed at RAF Fairford had left the base. The force included B-1B Lancer bombers that had been operating from Britain during a period of heightened military tension with Iran.
The move followed a security incident near RAF Fairford on September 27.
British police arrested five men near the base after officers stopped three vans in the area. The men, all in their 20s, were initially arrested on suspicion of offenses involving explosives and terrorism, according to Reuters. Police later said petrol was found in the vehicles, but investigators did not discover improvised explosive devices.
A sixth suspect, a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national, was arrested later in London. He was questioned as part of the same investigation and was released on police bail on October 3. The original five suspects were also released on bail while the investigation continues.
The Associated Press reported that British authorities are examining whether the suspected plot may have involved support or direction from a foreign state. Iran has been publicly linked to the investigation by British and U.S. officials, although important details about any possible connection have not been made public.
Iran has denied involvement.
The case has drawn unusual attention because RAF Fairford plays an important role in U.S. military operations in Europe and the Middle East. The base has long been used by American strategic bombers, including B-1B Lancers and B-52 Stratofortresses, during training deployments and combat operations.
RAF Fairford is operated by Britain's Royal Air Force, but it supports a major U.S. Air Force presence. Its long runway and support facilities allow it to handle large bombers that may be temporarily deployed from bases in the United States.
Recent U.S. operations from Fairford have included missions connected to the conflict with Iran. Reuters reported that the B-1 bombers stationed there had been used in U.S. strikes against Iranian targets.
That history made the suspected threat especially serious for both countries.
President Donald Trump discussed the arrests after the September incident and said the suspects appeared to have been preparing to cause major damage. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also suggested that investigators were examining possible foreign involvement. British officials have said the investigation remains active.
Police have been careful not to disclose evidence that could affect the investigation or future court proceedings. Counter Terrorism Policing said earlier that no explosive device had been found, even though petrol was recovered from vehicles connected to the case.
That distinction is important. Authorities are investigating a suspected terrorist plot, but no suspect has been convicted and no public evidence has established exactly what the group intended to do.
The withdrawal of the bombers shows that military planners considered the security situation serious enough to change deployments.
CBS News reported that a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that all U.S. bombers at Fairford had returned to their home stations. The Pentagon has not publicly described the move as a permanent change to U.S. operations at the base.
Aircraft can be moved for several reasons, including security, maintenance, scheduling and operational needs. In this case, the withdrawal came shortly after the terrorism investigation and amid concerns about the safety of the base, personnel and aircraft.
B-1B Lancers are long-range supersonic bombers operated by the U.S. Air Force. They can carry large conventional weapons loads and are designed to fly long distances at high speed. Although the B-1 was originally developed during the Cold War, the aircraft has remained an important part of U.S. conventional strike capability.
RAF Fairford has hosted U.S. bombers during many periods of international tension. American aircraft have used the base for deployments linked to Europe, NATO missions and operations farther south.
The latest incident also comes during broader concerns in Britain about alleged Iranian-linked activity.
British officials have warned in recent years that hostile states may use criminal networks, intermediaries or proxies to carry out surveillance, intimidation or attacks. Iran has repeatedly rejected accusations that it directs such activity in Britain.
The Fairford investigation has not yet produced criminal charges.
British counterterrorism investigators are continuing to examine the movements of the suspects, the vehicles found near the base and any possible communications with other individuals. Authorities are also examining whether there was a foreign-state connection.
The Guardian reported that at least 10 of 12 B-1 bombers had been moved from Fairford as the withdrawal was taking place, with the Pentagon later confirming that all deployed U.S. bombers had returned to their home bases. Some of the aircraft had arrived in Britain only recently.
The rapid departure is notable because bomber deployments normally involve extensive planning, ground support and coordination. Moving the aircraft reduces the number of high-value military assets at the base while investigators continue their work.
It does not mean the United States is abandoning RAF Fairford.
The base remains a major location for cooperation between the U.S. and British militaries. It is also capable of receiving bombers again if American commanders decide future missions require them.
For now, the most important unanswered question is what investigators ultimately determine about the suspected plot. Officials have publicly raised the possibility of Iranian involvement, but the full evidence has not been released.
The suspects remain under investigation, and the claims against them have not been tested in court.
The bomber withdrawal therefore represents a security response rather than proof of who was responsible. It also shows how a suspected threat near one British air base can quickly affect U.S. military operations thousands of miles away.