The United States has withdrawn all of its Air Force bombers from Royal Air Force Station Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, following a suspected terror plot that U.S. officials suggest may have been linked to Iran. The relocation involved approximately a dozen B-1 bombers, which were returned to their home bases in the continental United States, according to a U.S. official who spoke to Fox News. RAF Fairford serves as the only European forward operating location for American heavy bombers.
A department official confirmed the move, stating that all U.S. bombers deployed to the base have re-deployed to their home stations. The Pentagon emphasized that this relocation does not diminish the fleet's operational capacity, noting that the bomber force remains fully prepared to launch long-range strike missions directly from the United States when needed. The official added that Airmen operating the B-1, B-2, and B-52 aircraft retain the capability to deliver precision global strikes anywhere, anytime, including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States.
The withdrawal follows an incident last Sunday when U.K. officials discovered three suspicious vehicles containing fuel accelerants near the base. U.K. authorities confirmed that no improvised explosive devices were found, but a quantity of petrol was recovered. The discovery triggered an investigation into potential ties to Iranian state proxies. During this process, authorities arrested a British-Iranian dual national on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the suspected plot "clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor." President Donald Trump also told reporters last week that the incident may have been connected to Iran, a nation with which the United States has been at war since February. In total, six people were arrested in connection with the incident, including five British nationals in their early 20s.
Police have since released all suspects on bail, while the investigation remains ongoing. Officials described the release of the five British nationals as an investigative decision grounded in experience and careful consideration of policing powers. They noted that while the development may have come as a surprise to many, it reflects standard procedural judgment.