The United States has pulled all B-1 strategic bombers from RAF Fairford air base in the UK and returning them to home stations after British counter-terrorism police disrupted a suspected attack plot targeting the facility.
The decision follows the arrests of six suspects in connection with suspicious vehicles spotted near the Gloucestershire air base which serves as a major hub for US military operations. Among those detained and released on bail was a 25-year-old British-Iranian national.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated there were "strong indications" pointing to Iranian involvement in the planned attack. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also signaled foreign involvement. However the Iranian officials strongly denied any connection also dismissing the allegations as baseless and summoning the British ambassador in protest.
While the Pentagon confirmed the redeployment of the aircraft without officially citing the security breach the officials acknowledged that operational security dictated the movement.
RAF Fairford has long functioned as a key forward operating location for the US Air Force recently hosting a dozen B-1 bombers used for strikes against Iranian targets amid heightened Middle East tensions. US and UK authorities confirmed that intelligence-sharing and investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
